mk     ELECTION  LAWS 


OF   THE 


State  of  Rhode  Island 


1918 


P  U  O  V  I  D  E  N  C  E,     R.     I. 
1918. 


ELECTION  LAWS 


OF  THE 


State  of  Rhode  Island 


1918 


P  K  O  V  I  D  E  N  0  B,     R.     I. 

1918. 


•   •  >    «     • 


«••«)»     » 


.   •<•      •    •     #■  •    *    ff 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE 

STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND 

AND 

PEOVIDENCE  PLANTATIONS, 

AS  AMENDED, 

EELATIVE  TO  ELECTIONS,  ETC. 


ARTICLE  11. 

Of  the  Qualifications  for  Electors. 

Section  1.  Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  the  Electors  own- 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  ^"^  ^^^  ^**^*" 
this  state  for  one  year,  and  in  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  may 
claim  a  right  to  vote,  six  months  next  preceding  the  time  of 
voting,  and  who  is  really  and  truly  possessed  in  his  own  right 
of  real  estate  in  such  town  or  city  of  the  value  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four  dollars  over  and  above  all  incumbrances,  or 
which  shall  rent  for  seven  dollars  per  annum  over  and  above 
any  rent  reserved  or  the  interest  of  any  incumbrances  thereon, 
being  an  estate  in  fee-simple,  fee-tail,  for  the  life  of  any  person, 
or  an  estate  in  reversion  or  remainder,  which  qualifies  no  other 
person  to  vote,  the  conveyance  of  which  estate,  if  by  deed,  shall 
have  been  recorded  at  least  ninety  days,  shall  thereafter  have  a 
right  to  vote  in  the  election  of  all  civil  officers  and  on  all  ques- 
tions in  all  legal  town  or  ward  meetings  so  long  as  he  continues 
so  qualified.     And  if  any  person  hereinbefore  described  shall 

Ml.441.57 


4        ;,-;:,:  -;  ;,■    ^,  i  t     ;  election  laws. 

own  any  such  estate  within  this  state  out  of  the  town  or  city  in 
which  he  resides,  he  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  in  the  election  of 
all  general  officers  and  members  of  the  general  assembly  in  the 
town  or  city  in  which  he  shall  have  had  his  residence  and  home 
for  the  term  of  six  months  next  preceding  the  election,  upon  pro- 
ducing a  certificate  from  the  clerk  of  the  town  or  city  in  which 
his  estate  lies,  bearing  date  within  ten  days  of  the  time  of  his 
voting,  setting  forth  that  such  person  has  a  sufficient  estate 
therein  to  qualify  him  as  a  voter;  and  that  the  deed,  if  any,  has 
been  recorded  ninety  days. 

Sec.  2.     [Section  2  annuled  by  article  VII.  of  the  amend- 
ments, April,  1888,  and  the  following  substituted.] 

Qualifications 

eraifr*^'*  ^*°'  Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  this  state 
for  two  years,  and  in  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  may  offer 
to  vote  six  moriths  next  preceding  the  time  of  his  voting,  and 
whose  name  shall  he  registered  in  the  town  or  city  where  he 

Superseding 

Article  VI.  oi   resides  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  June;  (see  article  XI.,  sec- 
Amendments.  ■'  / 

tion  eleven  of  the  amendments)  in  the  year  next  preceding  the 

Qualifications       time  of  his  votinq,  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election  of  all 

requisite  to  •'  ^  .      ^    .  -       , 

vote  for  city  civil  officers  and  on  all  questions  in  all  legally  organized  town 
'"^doiT^  P^P-  or  ward  meetings:  Provided,  that  no  person  shall  at  any  time 
he  allowed  to  vote  in  the  election  of  the  city  council  of  any  city, 
or  upon  any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax  or  for  the  expenditure 
of  money  in  any  town  or  city,  unless  he  shall  within  the  yem* 
next  preceding  have  paid  a  tax  assessed  upon  his  property 
therein,  valued  at  least  at  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars. 

Sec.  3.     [Section  3  annulled  by  article  VII.  of  the  amend- 
ments, April,  1888,  and  the  following  substituted.] 
TmSS^-^^         Article  VII.  of  Amendments,  Sec.  2.     The  assessors  of 

nually  on  what  ,     ,  7      •!        7     77  77  1. 

persons  for  the     each  town  and  City  shall  annuxilly  assess  upon  every  person  who, 

lie  schools.         if  registered,  would  he  qualified  to  vote,  a  tax  of  one  dollar,  or 

such  sum  as  with  his  other  taxes  shall  amount  to  one  dollar,, 

which  tax  shall  he  paid  into  the  treasury  of  such  town  or  city 

and  he  applied  to  the  support  of  public  schools  therein:     Pro- 


ELECTION    LAWS.  5 

VIDEO,  that  such  tax  assessed  upon  any  person  who  has  performed  ^o  ^e  remitted, 

military  duty,  shall  be  remitted  for  the  year  he  shall  perform 

such  duty;  and  said  tax  assessed  upon  any  mariner  for  any  year 

while  he  is  at  sea,  or  upon  any  person  who  hy  reason  of  extreme 

poverty  is  unable  to  pay  said  tax,  shall,  upon  application  of  such  Collection  and 

^  ^^  J  remission  to  be 

mariner  or  person,  he  remitted.     The  general  assembly  shall  have  ^  provided  by 

power  to  provide  hy  law  for  the  colleciion  and  remission  of  said 

tax. 

Sec.  4.     No  person  in  the  military,  naval,  marine,  or  any  who  shau  not 

'^  '  "^     gain    residence, 

other  service  of  the  United  States  shall  be  considered  as  havinsr  ^^  be  permitted 

o    to  vote. 

the  required  residence  by  reiason  of  being  employed  in  any 
garrison,  barrack  or  military  or  naval  station  in  this  state: 
and  no  pauper,  lunatic,  person  non  compos  mentis,  person  under 
guardianship,  or  member  of  the  Narragansett  tribe  of  Indians, 
shall  be  permitted  to  be  registered  or  to  vote.  Nor  shall  any 
person  convicted  of  bribery,  or  of  any  crime  deemed  infamous  at 
common  law,  be  permitted  to  exercise  that  privilege,  until  he  be 
expressly  restored  thereto  by  act  of  the  general  assembly. 

Sec.  5.     Persons  residing  on  lands  ceded  by  this  state  to  the  Residents  upon 

.  .  land  ceded  to 

United  States  shall  not  be  entitled  to  exercise  the  privilege  of  united  states 

^  *^  not    electors. 

electors. 

Sec.  6.     The  general  assembly  shall  have  full  power  to  pro-  Powers  of 

.  assembly  as  to 

vide  for  a  registery  of  voters,  to  prescribe  the  manner  of  conduct-  elections, 
ing  the  elections,  the  form  of  certificates,  the  nature  of  the  evi- 
dence to  be  required  in  case  of  a  dispute  as  to  the  right  of  any 
person  to  vote,  and  generally  to  enact  all  laws  necessary  to  carry 
this  article  into  effect,  and  to  prevent  abuse,  corruption  and 
fraud  by  voting. 

Article  IV.  of  Amendments.     Electors  of  this  state  who,  in   Electors  absent 

from  the  state 

time  of  war,  are  absent  from  the  state  in  the  actual  military  ^^  t^e  military 

'  ^  '  ^     service  of  the 

service  of  the  United  States,  being  otherwise  qualified  shall  have  United  states 
a  right  to  vote  in  all  elections  in  the  state  for  electors  of  president 
and  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  representatives  in  con- 
gress and  general  officers  of  the  state.  The  general  assembly 
shall  have  full  power  to  provide  by  law  for  carrying  this  article 
into  effect;  and  until  such  provision  shall  be  made  hy  law,  every 


service  of  the 
United  States, 
allowed  to  vote. 


ELECTION    LAWS. 

such  absent  elector,  on  the  day  of  such  elections,  may  deliver  a 
written  or  printed  hallot,  with  the  names  of  the  persons  voted  for 
thereon,  and  his  christian  and  surname,  and  his  voting  residence 
in  the  state,  written  at  length  on  the  hack  thereof,  to  the  officer 
commanding  the  regiment  or  company  to  which  he  belongs;  and 
all  such  ballots,  certified  by  such  commanding  officer  to  have 
been  given  by  the  elector  whose  name  is  written  thereoii,  and 
returned  by  such  commanding  officer  to  the  secretary  of  state 
within  the  time  prescribed  by  law  for  counting  the  votes  in  such 
elections,  shall  be  received  and  counted  with  the  same  effect  as 
if  given  by  such  elector  in  open  town,  ward,  or  district  meeting; 
and  the  cleric  of  each  town  or  city,  until  otherwise  provided  by 
law,  shall  within  five  days  after  any  such  election,  transmit  to  the 
secretary  of  state  a  certified  list  of  the  names  of  all  such  electors 
on  their  respective  voting  lists. 

AETICLE  V. 

Of  the  House  of  Representatives. 


House  of  repre- 
sentatives   is 
how  consti- 
tuted. 


Ratio  of  repre- 
sentation. 


Section  1.  [Section  1  annulled  by  article  XIII.  of  the 
amendments,  November,  1909,  and  the  following  substituted.] 

The  house  of  representatives  shall  never  exceed  one  hundred 
members,  and  shall  be  constituted  on  the  basis  of  population, 
always  allowing  one  representative  for  a  fraction  exceeding  half 
the  ratio;  but  each  town  and  city  shall  ahvays  be  entitled  to  at 
least  one  member;  and  no  town  or  city  shall  have  more  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  ivhole  number  of  members.  The  general  assembly 
may,  after  any  new  census  taken  by  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  or  this  state,  re-apportion  the  representation  in  conformity 
with  the  foregoing  provisions.  As  soon  as  this  amendment  goes 
into  effect,  the  general  assembly  shall  divide  each  town  and  city 
into  as  many  districts  as  it  is  entitled  to  representatives,  and  after 
each  census,  or  as  occasion  may  require,  the  general  assembly 
may  so  divide  each  town  and  city,  and  one  representative  shall 
be  elected  from  each  district  by  the  qualified  electors  thereof. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  \ 

Such  district  shall  be  as  nearly  equal  in  population  and  as  com' 
pact  in  territory  as  possible. 

Sec.  2.     The  house  of  representatives  shall  have  authority  May  elect  its 

^  ''    officers. 

to  elect  its  speaker,  clerks  and  other  officers.     The  senior  mem-  Precedence  of 

^  '  Newport  mem- 

ber from  the  town  of  Newport,  if  any  be  present,  shall  preside  ^[f^^*  organi- 

in  the  organization  of  the  house. 


AETICLE  VI. 

Of  the  Senate. 
Section    1.    The   sena)te   shall   consist    of   the    lieutenant-   senate  is  how 

conatituted. 

governor  and  of  one  senator  from  each  town  or  city  in  the  state. 

[Sections  2  and  3  annulled  by  article  XIY.  of  the  amend- 
ments, November,  1909,  and  the  following  substituted.] 

Article  XIV.  or  Amendments,  Section  1.     The  lieutenant-  ce^'aiT/w?" 
governor  shall  preside  in  the  senate  and  in  grand  committee.  "^*^*  *°  ^°*^* 
The  presiding  officer  of  the  senate  and  grand  committee  shall 
have  a  right  to  vote  in  case  of  equal  division,  but  not  otherwise. 

Sec.  2.  If,  by  reason  of  death,  resignation,  absence,  or  other  ^^^^^^^  * 
cause,  the  lieutenant-governor  is  not  present,  to  preside  in  the  ^^^^^'  ^^^°- 
senate,  the  senate  shall  elect  one  of  their  oiun  members  to  preside 
during  such  absence  or  vacancy;  and  until  such  election  is  made 
by  the  senate,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  preside.  The  presiding 
officer  of  the  senate  shall  preside  in  grand  committee  and  in  joint 
assembly. 

Sec.  4.  The  secretary  of  state  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office, 
be  secretary  of  the  senate,  unless  otherwise  provided  by  law, 
and  the  senate  may  elect  such  other  officers  as  they  deem 
necessary. 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


ARTICLE  VIII. 


Of  Elections. 


Election  of 
general  officers 
and   members 
of   asaembly. 


Xncapacity    pr 
failure  of  elec- 


[  Sections  1  to  9  annulled  by  article  XI.  of  the  amendments, 
November,  1900;  sections  three  to  eleven  of  said  article  XI. 
are  as  follows.] 

[Section  2  of  article  XI.  of  amendments  annulled  by  article 
XVI.  of  amendments,  November,  1911,  and  the  following  sub- 
stituted:] 

Article  XVI.  of  Amendments,  Section  1.  The  governor, 
lieutenant-governor,  secretary  of  state,  attorney-general,  general 
treasurer,  and  senators  and  "^representatives  in  general  assembly 
shall  he  elected  at  town,  ward,  and  district  meetings  on  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novemher  hiermially, 
commencing  A.  D.  1912,  and  shall  severally  hold  their  offices  for 
two  years  from  the  first  Tuesday  of  Janv/iry  next  succeeding  their 
election,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  3.  When  the  governor-elect  shall  die,  remove  from  the 
state,  refuse  to  serve,  become  insane,  or  he  otherwise  incapaci- 
tated, the  lieutenant-governor-elect  shall  he  quMified  as  governor, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected.  When 
both  the  governor  and  lieutenant-governor-elect,  or  either  ttie 
lieutenant-governor,  secretary  of  state,  attorney-general,  or  gene- 
ral treasurer-elect  are  so  incapacitated,  or  when  there  has  been  a 
failure  to  elect  any  one  or  more  of  the  officers  mentioned  in  this 
section,  the  general  assembly  shall  upon  its  organization  meet 
in  grand  committee  and  elect  some  person  or  persons  to  fill  the 
office  or  offices,  as  the  case  may  he,  for  which  such  incapacity 
exists,  or  as  to  which  such  failure  to  elect  occurred.  When  the 
general  assembly  shall  elect  any  of  said  officers  because  of  the 
failure  of  any  person  to  receive  a  plurality  of  the  votes  cast,  the 
election  in  each  case  shall  he  made  from  the  persons  who  re- 
ceived  the  same  and  largest  number  of  votes. 

*  See  Article  XIII  of  Amendments  adopted  Nov.,  1909,  and  Chapter  9 
of  the  General  Laws  as  amended  by  Sec.  3  of  Chapter  640.  Public  Laws. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  » 

Sec.  4.     //  the  offices  of  governor-  and  lieutenant-governor  he  vacanciea  in 
both  vacant,  by  reason  "bf  death  or  otherwise,  they  shall  be  filled  teLnt^gorer^' 
by  the  geiural  assembly  in  grand  committee,  and  the  acting ^  "°'''  ^^"^  ^"^**- 
governor  shall,  if  the  general  assembly  is  not  then  in  session, 
call  a  special  session  thereof  for  that  purpose  within   twenty 
days  after  both  of  said  offices  become  vacant  if  a  stated  session 
is  not  sooner  to  occur. 

Sec.  5.  hi  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  secretary  of  state,  vacancies  in 
attorney-general,  or  general  treasurer  from  any  cause,  the  gene-  how"  mied.  *^"'' 
ral  assembly  in  grand  committee  shall  elect  some  person  to  fill 
the  same:  Provided,  that  if  such  vacancy  occurs  when  the 
general  assembly  is  not  in  session  the  governor  shall  appoint 
some  person  to  fill  such  vacancy  until  a  successor  elected  by  the 
general  assembly  is  qualified  to  act. 

Sec.   6.     When  a  senator  or  representative   elect  shall  die,  Vacancies  in 

general   assem- 

remove  from  the  state,  refuse  to  serve,  become  insane,  or  he  biy  or  incapac- 

.        .  .  .  ity,  how  filled. 

otherwise  incapacitated,  or  when  at  an  election  for  any  senator 
or  representative  no  person  shall  receive  a  plurality  of  the  votes 
cast,  a  new  election  shall  be  held.  A  vacancy  in  the  senate  or 
house  of  representatives  shall  be  filled  at  a  new  election.  The 
general  assembly  shall  provide  by  general  law  for  the  holding 
of  such  elections  at  such  times  as  to  insure  that  each  town  and 
city  shall  be  fully  represented  in  the  general  assembly  during 
the  ivhole  of  every  session  thereof  so  far  as  is  practicable.  Every 
person  elected  in  accordance  with  this  section  shall  hold  his 
office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  or  for  the  full  term,  as  the 
case  may  be,  of  the  office  which  he  is  elected  to  fill,  and  until  his 
successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  7.     In  elections  by  the  general  assembly  in  grand  com-  Elections  in 
mittee   the  person  receiving  a  majority  of  the  votes  shall  be  mittee  by  m» 
elected.     Every  person  elected  by  the  general  assembly  to  fill 
a  vacancy,  or  pursuant  to  section  3  of  this  article,  shall  hold 
his  office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  or  for  the  full  term,  as 
the  case  may  be,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec  8.     A  quorum  of  a  grand  committee  shall  consist  of  a  Quorum  of 

grand    com- 

majority  of  all  the  members  of  the  senate  and  a  majority  of  all  mittee. 


JO  ELECTION   LAWS. 

the  memhers  of  the  house  of  representatives  duly  assemhled  pur- 
suant to  an  invitation  from  one  of  said  bodies  which  has  been 
accepted-  by  the  other,  and  the  acceptance  of  which  has  beeit 
communicated  by  message  to  the  body  in  which  such  invitation 
originated,  and  each  house  shall  be  attended  by  its  secretaries 
and  clerks.  No  act  or  business  of  any  kind  shall  be  done  in 
grand  committee  other  than  that  which  is  distinctly  specified  in 
the  invitation  by  virtue  of  ivhich  such  grand  committee  is 
assembled,  except  to  take  a  recess  or  to  dissolve:  Provided, 
that  the  grand  committee  may  appoint  a  sub-committee  of  its 
own  members  to  courit  any  ballots  delivered  to  it  and  report 
the  result  of  such  count. 
Present  officers        Sec.    9.     The    qovcmor,    lieutenant-qovernor ,    secretary    of 

to  hold  office,  a  ^  y  >  j        ] 

until  when.  state,  attomey-gencral ,  general  treasurer,  and  senators  and  rep- 
resentatives in  the  general  assembly  in  office  when  this  amend- 
ment goes  into  effect  shall  continue  to  hold  their  offices,  with 
the  powers  and  duties  and  subject  to  the  limitations  prescribed 
therein  for  like  officers,  until  the  first  Tuesday  in  January, 
A.  D.  1902,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified,. 
Vacancies  in  their  number  from  any  cause  shall  be  filled  in  the 
manner  which  is  prescribed  by  law  at  the  time  of  their  occur- 
rence. All  officers  who  by  the  provisions  of  this  amendment 
are  continued  in  office  beyond  the  stated  time  for  luhich  they 
were  elected  or  appointed  shall  receive  a  pro  rata  compensation 
for  their  increased  term  of  service.based  upon  the  compensation 
provided  for  in  this  amendment  or  by  law. 

anSndment'^^^''  ^^^-  ^^-  ^^^^  fi^'^^  election  of  officers  named  in  the  next  pre- 
ceding section  binder  this  amendment  shall  be  held  upon  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  A.  D.  1901. 
The  tonm,  ward,  and  district  meetings  therefor  shall  be  warned 
and  conducted,  and  the  result  thereof  determined,  authenti- 
cated, and  declared  in  the  manner  at  that  time  prescribed  by 
law,  and  the  persons  then  elected  shall  hold  their  offices  front-, 
the  said  first  Tuesday  in  January,  A.  D.  1902,  and  thereafter 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Of  registration.        Sec.  11.     The  general  assembly  shall  provide  by  law  for  the 


ELECTION    LAWS.  11 

registration  necessary  to  qualify  persons  to  vote  at  said  first  elec-  ■ 
tion,  which  registration  shall  close  on  the  last  day  of  June, 
A.  D.  1901^  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  amendment  no  person 
of  whom  registration  is  or  may  he  required  hy  law  shall  he 
permitted  to  vote  unless  his  name  shall  have  heen  registered  in 
the  town  or  city  where  he  resides  on  or  hefore  the  last  day  of 
June  next  preceding  the  time  of  his  voting.  For  all  elections^ 
hy  the  people  held  hefore  said  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Mon- 
day in  JSlovemher,  A.  D.  1901^  the  qualifications  of  the  electors 
shall  he  such  as  were  required  hy  the  constitution  and  laivs  ex- 
isting at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  amendment. 

Sec.  10.     [Section  10  annulled  by  article  X.  of  the  amend- 
ments, November,  1893,  and  the  following  substituted.] 

In  all  elections  held  hy  the  people  for  state,  city,  town,  ward,  Plurality  to 
or  district  officers,  the  person  or  candidate  receiving  the  largest  p^^pj^^^  *^® 
numher  of  votes  cast  shall  he  declared  elected. 


GENERAL  LAWS  AS  AMENDED, 


TITLE  II. 


OF  ELECTIONS. 


Chapter     6.     Of  the  rights  and  qualifications  of  voters. 

Chapter.  7.  Of  the  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  and  of  the 
registering,  listing,  and  returning  lists  of  voters  and 
of  proof  of  their  qualification  to  vote. 

Chapter     8.     Of  canvassing  the  rights  and  correcting  the  lists  of  voters. 

Chapter     9.     Of  elective  meetings. 

Chapter  10.     Of  the  manner  of  conducting  elections. 

Chapter  11.     Of  elections  by  secret  ballot. 

Chapter  12.  Of  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  cities  of  Providence, 
Newport,  and  Pawtucket.     [Also  Central  Falls.] 

Chapter  13.  Of  the  use  of  voting-machines  at  state,  city,  and  town 
elections. 

Chapter  14.     Of  the  election  of  general  officers. 

Chapter  15.  Of  the  election  of  senators  and  representatives  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly. 

Chapter  16.  Of  the  election  of  representatives  in  the  congress  of  the 
United  States. 

Chapter  17.  Of  the  election  of  electors  of  president  and  vice-president 
of  the  United  States. 

Chapter  18.  Of  voting  upon  propositions  of  amendment  of  the  con- 
stitution, and  upon  questions  submitted  to  the  elect- 
ors of  the  state. 

Chapter  19.     Of  the  state  return ing-board  and  defining  its  duties. 

Chapter  20.     General  provisions  concerning  elections. 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


13 


CHAPTER  6. 


Of  the  Rights  and  Qualifications  of  Voters. 


Gen.  Laws, 
1896,  chap.  6. 


Section 


2. 


Classification  of  voters  as 
registered  and  unregis- 
tered and  their  rights  to 
vote. 

Right  to  vote  on  real  estate, 
situated     in     town     other 


Section 

than  that  in  which  voter 
resides. 
3.  Citizens  of  this  state  may 
obtain  a  judgment  declar- 
ing their  citizenship, 
residence,    and    domicile. 


Section  1.     The  two  following  classes  of  persons  have  by  the  classification  of 

voters  as  regis- 

constitution,  the  first  as  registered  and  the  second  as  unregis-  ^ered  and  un- 
tered  voters,  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election  of  all  civil  officers  and 
on  all  questions  in  all  legally  organized  town,  ward,  or  district 
meetings : — 

First,  Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  the  a^e  of  Registered 

^  voters,    includ- 

twenty-one  years  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  this  ^^s  personal 

"^  "^  property 

state  for  two  years  and  in  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  may  ^^^^^s- 

offer  to  vote  six  months  next  preceding  the  time  of  his  voting,  Jan-  23,  1901. 

and  whose  name  shall  be  registered  in  the  town  or  city  where  he 

resides  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  June  next  preceding  the  time 

of  his  voting:    Provided,  that  no  person  shall  at  any  time  be  ^n^'o^'im^d- 

allowed  to  vote  in  the  election  of  the  city  council  of  any  city,  S^R^'i.^754.^' 

or  upon  any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax  or  for  the  expenditure     - 

of  money  in  any  town  or  city,  unless  he  shall  within  the  year 

next  preceding  have   paid   a  tax   assessed  upon   his   property 

therein  valued  at  least  at  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollarb. 

Second,  every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  the  age  of  ^^^  estate 
twenty-one  years  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  this  A?r*n^*8ec  1 
state  for  one  year  and  in  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  may  claim  ^  g-  J-  sg. 
a  right  to  vote  six  months  next  preceding  the  time  of  voting, 
and  who  is  really  and  truly  possessed  in  his  own  right  of  real 
estate  in  such  town  or  city  of  the  value  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-four  dollars  over  and  above  all  incumbrances,  or  which 
shall  rent  for  seven  dollars  per  annum   over  and  above  any 


14 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Persons   en- 
titled to  vote 
in   a  town  for 
general    offi- 
cers,   etc.,    up- 
on  real   estate 
in  another 
town. 

Oons.    R.   I., 
Art.  II.,  sec.  1. 


Citizens  of  this 
state    may   ob- 
tain a  judg- 
ment   declaring 
their  citizen- 
ship,   residence 
and  domicile. 
Pub.   Laws, 
1459,  April  23, 
1907. 
C.P.A.,   §  1208. 


rent  reserved  or  the  interest  of  any  incumbrances  thereon,  being 
an  estate  in  fee-simple,  fee-tail,  for  the  life  of  any  person,  or  an 
estate  in  revision  or  remainder,  which  qualifies  no  other  person 
to  vote,  the  conveyance  of  which  estate,  if  by  deed,  shall  have 
been  recorded  at  least  ninety  days. 

Sec.  2.  The  following  class  of  persons  have,  by  the  con- 
stitution, as  unregistered  voters,  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election 
of  all  general  officers  and  members  of  the  general  assembly,  in 
the  town  or  city  in  which  they  shall  have  had  their  residence 
and  home  for  the  term  of  six  months  next  preceding  the 
election : — 

Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  this  state  for 
one  year,  and  shall  own  any  such  real  estate  within  this  state, 
but  out  of  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  resides,  as  is  described  in 
the  second  clause  of  the  first  section  of  this  chapter,  and  who 
shall  produce  a  ce-rtificate  from  the  clerk  of  the  town  or  city  in 
which  his  estate  lies,  bearing  date  within  ten  days  of  the  time 
of  his  voting,  setting  forth  that  such  person  has  a  sufficient 
estate  therein  to  qualify  him  as  a  voter,  and  that  the  deed,  if 
any,  has  been  recorded  ninety  days. 

Sec.  3.  The  superior  court  shall  hear  and  determine  peti- 
tions of  persons  alleging  themselves  to  be  citizens,  residents, 
and  domiciled  inhabitants  of  this  state,  and  praying  a  judicial 
declaration  of  such  citizenship,  residence  and  domicile. 

Such  petitions  shall  in  all  cases  set  forth  the  grounds  upon 
which  the  application  is  based,  and  shall  be  supported  by  such 
evidence  as  the  court  shall  deem  necessary.  They  shall  be  filed, 
heard  and  determined  in  the  county  in  which  the  petitioner 
claims  residence,  unless  such  residence  be  in  the  county  of 
Bristol,  in  which  case  the  said  petition  shall  be  filed,  heard  and 
determined  in  said  court  in  Providence. 

A  copy  of  the  petition,  with  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of 
hearing,  shall  be  served  on  the  attorney-general  five  days 
previous  thereto,  and  he  may  appear  and  be  heard  thereon. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  16 

CHAPTER  7. 

(As  amended  by  Section   1,  Chapter  640,  Public  Laws.) 

Of  Boards  of  Canvassers  and  Registration  and  of  the 

Registering,  Listing^  and  Returning  Lists  of  Voters 

AND  of  Proof  of  their  Qualification  to  Vote. 

Section  1.     The  secretary  of  state  shall  prepare  and  furnish  secretary  of 

^  ^       ^  state  to  pro- 

to  the  town  clerks  of  the  several  towns  and  the  several  boards  of  tl^g'^^lth^''^ 
canvassers  and  registration  a  book,  to  be  entitled  the  Registry  £SSion'*o7^' 
Book,  which  book  shall .  be  ruled  under  suitable  headings  to  ^°*^'^*- 
indicate  the  time  when  and  the  place  where  any  person,  native- 
born,  desiring  to  be  registered,  was  born ;  if  the  person  was  born 
or  has  resided  without  the  state,  when  he  last  came  to  reside 
within  the  state ;  and  if  he  was  bom  or  has  resided  without  the 
town,  when  he  last  came  to  reside  within  the  town ;  and  the  place 
in  the  town  at  which  the  person  resided  at  the  time  of  registering. 
I  Said  registery  book  shall  also  be  ruled  under  suitable  headings 
to  indicate  the  time  when  and  the  place  where  any  person  of 
foreign  birth  or  parentage,  desiring  to  be  registered,  was  born; 
when  and  where  he  landed  in  the  United  States;  the  date  when 
he  last  came  to  this  state;  the  date  when  he  last  came  to  the 
town;  where  and  when  and  by  what  court  naturalized;  when, 
where,  and  by  what  court,  was  father  naturalized ;  and  the  place, 
street  and  number  in  the  town  at  which  the  person  resided  at 
the  time  of  registering. 

Boards  of  Canvassers  and  Registration. 

Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  a  board  of  canvassers  and  registra- 
tion in  each  of  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  consisting 
of  three  members,  each  of  whom  hereafter  elected  shall  hold 
office  for  the  term  of  three  years  from  the  first  Monday  of  March  Boards  of  can- 

•^  ^  vassers   and 

succeeding  the  date  of  his  election  and  until  his  successor  is  providenc?' 
elected  and  qualified.  One  member  of  each  of  said  boards  shall  tucketfliow 
be  elected  in  joint  convention  by  the  city  council  of  the  respect-  ^^^^*®^- 


16  ELECTION   LAWS. 

ive  cities  at  the  time  of  the  election  of  city  officers  in  each  year. 
In  case  any  person  elected  as  a  member  of  said  board  shall 
decline  to  serve  or  neglect  to  qualify,  or  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in 
-said  board  for  any  cause,  said  office  or  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by 
the  city  council  in  like  manner  for  the  term  of  said  office  or 
unexpired  term. 
Officers  of  Buch       g^c.  3.     Said  boards  shall  each  elect  one  member  as  presid- 

boaxds,  and  ^ 

quorum.  jj^g  officer,  and  another  member  as  clerk  thereof :     Provided,  that 

in  the  city  of  Pawtucket  said  clerk  shall  be  designated  at  the 
time  of  his  election  by  the  city  council  in  joint  convention. 
Said  officers  shall  perform  all  the  duties  of  persiding  officers 
and  clerks  of  boards  of  canvassers,  respectively.  One  member 
of  each  of  said  boards  shall  be  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  registration,  and  two  members  shall  be  a  quorum  for 
all  purposes. 

b^T  **'  h^n^         ^^^'  ^'     '^^^  boards  of  canvassers   and  registration   of  the 

fegiBtration  ^^^  cities  of  Providcnce  and  Pawtucket  shall  have  an  office  in  their 
respective  cities  which  shall  be  open  for  the  purposes  of  registra- 
at  the  times  required  by  law,  and  in  the  city  of  Providence 
on  all  other  secular  days  when  the  board  is  not  elsewhere 
engaged  in  the  performance  of  its  duties. 

Salary  of  mem-        Sec.  5.     The  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  reffis- 

bers   of   Provi-  ° 

dence  board,       tration  of  the  city  of  Providence  shall  each  receive  from  said 

and  clerical  as-  "^ 

Bistance.  ^ity  a  Salary  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  payable 

monthly,  and  such  further  sum  as  the  city  council  of  said  city 
may,  from  time  to  time,  determine,  in  full  compensation  for  all 
duties  imposed  by  law  upon  said  board.  Said  board  may 
employ  such  clerical  assistance  as  it  may  deem  necessary  in  the 
discharge  of  its  duties,  and  agree  with  such  clerks  for  their  com- 
pensation, which  said  salary  and  compensation  shall  be  paid 
out  of  the  city  treasury :  Provided,  however,  that  said  board  shall 
not  authorize  the  payment  of  compensation  to  any  of  its  clerks 
in  excess  of  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  unless 
such  compensation  shall  have  been  approved  by  the  city  council 
of  said  city;  and  provided,  further,  that  the  aggregate  amount 


ELECTION   LAWS.  17 

agreed  to  be  paid  for  such  compensation  shall  not  exceed  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  in  any  one  year,  unless  a  greater 
sum  shall  be  appropriated  therefor  by  said  city  council. 

Sec.  6.     The  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  regis-  J?me^rs'°of 
tration  of  the  city  of  Pawtucket  shall  receive  such  compensation  board. *^  ^ 
as   the  city   council   shall   determine.        Said   board   may   hire 
necessary  clerical  assistance  and  fix  the  compensation  thereof, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  city  council. 

Sec.   7.     The.  boards  of  canvassers  and   registration  in   the  ^X^j^ards 
cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  shall  not  retain  to  their  own  ^^afai  ^Ss^^or 
use  any  of  the  fees  now  allowed  by  law  to  recording  and  cer-  ^^^"  ^"^^  ^*' 
tifying  officers,  but  shall  charge  and  collect  the  statutory  fees 
for  any  record,  certificate,  or  copy  required  by  law  to  be  made 
by  said  board,  and  shall  pay  over  the  same  on  the  first  business 
day  of  every  month  to  the  city  treasurer  of  the  respective  city: 
Provided,  that  said  boards  shall  furnish,  as  now  required  by  law, 
certified  copies  of  any  list  of  qualified  electors  in  any  repre- 
sentative-district, ward,  or  voting-district  in  said  city  on  pay- 
ment of  the  sum  of  one  dollar  for  each  such  certified  list,  which 
sums  shall  also  be  paid  into  the  city  treasury  of  said  cities  as 
above  provided. 

Sec.  8.     Said  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  shall  have  Such  boards  to 

have  charge  of 

charge  of  and  receive  the  registration  of  persons  entitled  by  law  registration  of 

^  o  1  »?  voters,  and  pre- 

to  vote  in  their  respective  cities  upon  being  registered,  and  shall  aJJ^'canSw*' 
prepare  the  voting-lists  of  all  persons  qualified  to  vote  in  the  ^^*^"^  ^^^^^' 
several  representative-districts,  wards,  and  voting-districts  in 
said  cities,  respectively,  and  shall  correct,  add  to,  classify,  can- 
vass, post,  publish  and  deliver  the  same,  and  perform  all  the 
other  duties  required  by  law  of  city,  representative-district  and 
voting-district  clerks  in  relation  to  the  registration  and  can- 
vassing of  voters  and  to  all  other  matters  relating  thereto. 

Sec.  9.     All  returns  and  other  things  required  by  law  to  be  Such  boards  to 

^  ^  make  certain 

made  and  furnished  to  or  by  city  clerks,  boards  of  canvassers,  and  returns, 
district  clerks,  relative  to  the  matters  within  the  purview  of 
2 


18 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


General    powers 
of  members  of 
such  boards, 
and  liability  to 
penalties. 


chapters  seven  and  eight,  shall  be  made  and  furnished  to  and  by 
said  boards. 

Sec.  10  Said  boards  shall  all  have  the  powers,  duties  and 
obligations,  and  the  members  thereof  in  their  several  capacities 
shall  be  individually  liable  to  the  same  fines,  penalties  and  for- 
feitures, provided  by  law,  as  city  clerks,  ward  clerks,  boards  of 
canvassers,  and  clerks  of  boards  of  canvassers,  relative  to  the 
matters  within  the  purview  of  chapters  seven  and  eight. 


Boards  of  Canvassers. 


Who  may  act 
as  boards  of 
canvassers  in 
the   several 
cities   and 
towns. 


Town   clerks  to 
act  as  clerks  of 
canvassers,  ex- 
cept  in  Provi- 
denoe  and 
Pawtucket. 


Boards  of    can- 
vassers may 
administer 
oaths,  compel 
attendance  of 
witnesses,  se- 
cure certain 
evidence,  and 
punish  for  con- 
tempt. 


Sec.  11.  The  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  cities 
and  towns  in  which  such  boards  are  or  shall  be  established,  the 
city  council  of  the  city  of  Cranston,  the  boards  of  aldermen  of  all 
other  cities,  and  the  town  councils  of  all  other  towns,  shall  be 
boards  of  canvassers  of  voters  in  their  respective  cities  and  towns 
and  of  the  voters  in  the  representative-districts,  wards,  and 
voting-districts  in  such  cities  and  towns. 

Sec.  12.  The  town  clerks  in  cities  and  towns  in  which  boards 
of  canvassers  and  registration  are  not  established  shall  act  as 
clerks  of  boards  of  canvassers  in  their  respective  towns,  and  shall 
produce  to  said  boards,  in  their  respective  towns,  such  returns, 
documents,  and  records  as  may  be  required  by  them  for  the  per- 
formance of  their  duties. 

Sec.  13.  The  members  of  the  boards  of  canvassers  are  here- 
by severally  authorized  to  administer  oaths,  and  said  boards, 
in  all  cases  of  every  nature  pending  before  them,  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  summon  witnesses  by  subpoena 
signed  by  the  clerk  thereof,  and  to  compel  such  witnesses  to 
attend  and  testify  in  the  same  manner  as  witnesses  are  compelled 
to  appear  and  testify  in  any  court;  and  said  boards  are  authorized 
to  compel  the  production  of  all  papers,  books,  documents, 
records,  certificates,  or  other  legal  evidence  that  may  be  neces- 
sary or  proper  for  the  determination  and  decision  of  any  question 
or  the  discharge  of  any  duty  required  by  law  of  said  boards,  by 
issuing  a  subpoena  duces  tecum,  signed  by  their  clerk ;  and  every 


ELECTION    LAWS.  '  19 

person  disobeying  any  such  writ  shall  be  adjudged  as  in  con- 
tempt, and  said  boards  may  punish  any  contempt  of  their 
authority  in  like  manner  as  contempt  may  be  punished  by  any 
court,  and  said  boards  may,  at  any  meeting  holden  for  the  pur- 
pose of  canvassing  the  voting-lists,  examine  under  oath  the 
person  whose  right  to  vote  is  disputed  or  any  other  person,  and 
may  receive  any  other  evidence  that  such  boards  may  deem 
necessary,  respecting  the  right  of  any  person  to  have  his  namv, 
upon  the  registry,  or  to  vote,  and  shall  decide  upon  the  same. 
Every  person  refusing  to  answer  upon  such  examination  shall 
be  fined  not  less  than  twenty-five  dollars,  nor  more  than  three  Penalties, 
hundred  dollars,  for  such  refusal.  No  evidence  elicited  in  such 
examination  shall  be  used  against  the  person  so  examined  in  any 
criminal  prosecution  against  him,  except  a  prosecution  for 
perjury  in  such  examination.  Any  person  who  shall  wilfully 
swear  falsely  in  any  proceeding;  matter,  or  hearing  before  said 
boards  or  any  of  them  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  the  crime  of 
perjury. 

Sec.  14.     Every  officer  required  to  perform  any  duty  under  Penalties  for 
the  provisions  of  chapters  seven  and  eight,  who  shall  refuse  or  "^^^^^^  °^  ^^^y- 
wilfully  neglect  to  perform  such  duty,  shall  be  fined  not  ex- 
ceeding five  hundred  dollars  or  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  six 
months,  unless  a  punishment  for  such  offense  is  therein  other- 
wise provided. 

Registration  of  Voters. 
Sec.  15.     Every  person,  who  is   or  within  a  year  may  be 
qualified  to  vote,  upon  being  registered  in  any  town  or  city,  other  - 
than  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  shall  go  to  the  town  certain  voters 
clerk  of  the  town  in  which  he  resides,  and  in  the  said  cities  of  fore  last  day  of 
Providence  and  Pawtucket  shall  go  to  the  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration   in   the   city   in  which   he   resides,   and   shall, 
annually  within  the  year  ending  on  the  last  day  of  June  register 
his  name  and  thereby  certify  to  the  truth  of  the  facts  stated  in 
the  appropriate^heads  in  such  registry.     Every  person  who  shall   penalty  for 
knowingly  make  any  false  certificate  in  registering  his  name  in   tLn.   '"^^^'"*" 


20 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Foreign-born 
voters   to   file 
certificate  of 
naturalization. 


Property  tax- 
payers who 
have  registered 
once,  not  re- 
quired to  reg- 
ister annually. 


Penalty  for 
fraudulent  ad- 
ditions  to   or 
striking    from 
voting-list. 


Assessors  of 
Providence  to 
deliver  to 
board  of  can- 
vassers, annu- 
ally, copy  of 
tax-assessment. 


any  such  registry  book  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  fifty  dollars 
or  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  sixty  days :  Provided,  that 
before  any  person's  name  shall  be  placed  upon  the  voting-list, 
if  such  person  shall  be  of  foreign  birth,  he  shall  file  proof,  at 
least  five  days  before  any  meeting  of  the  board  of  canvassers 
with  the  town  clerk  or  with  the  clerk  of  the  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration  as  the  case  may  be,  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  such  proof  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  the  town  or  city  wherein  such 
person  shall  claim  the  right  to  vote. 

Sec.  16.  The  several  town  clerks  and  boards  of  canvassers 
and  registration  shall  annually  place  upon  the  voting-list  the 
names  of  the  several  persons  who  have  previously  been  upon 
the  voting-list,  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  chapter, 
against  whom  a  property-tax  to  the  amount  of  one  dollar  or 
upwards  shall  have  been  assessed;  and  such  persons  need  not 
register  their  names  annually  as  is  required  of  persons  not  pay- 
ing a  property-tax. 

Sec.  17.  If  the  name  of  any  person  who  shall  not  be  entitled 
to  vote  as  aforesaid  shall  be  wilfully  or  fraudulently  added  to  the 
voting  list,  or  if  the  name  of  any  person  who  should  be  retained 
thereon,  shall  be  wilfully  or  fraudulently  stricken  from  the 
list,  every  member  of  the  board  of  canvassers  wilfully  or  fraud- 
ulently concurring  therein  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  hun- 
dred dollars  and  not  more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  18.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1060,  Public 
Laws.)  In  the  city  of  Providence,  the  assessors  of  taxes  shall 
annually,  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September,  certify 
and  deliver  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  said 
city  a  copy  of  the  tax-assessment  of  said  city,  which  copy  shall 
in  addition  specify  the  residence  by  street  and  number  of  each 
person  resident  in  said  city  by  them  assessed,  or  the  street  loca- 
tion of  the  land  assessed,  in  case  the  residence  of  the  owner 
cannot  be  ascertained. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  >  21 

Sec.  19.     Every  clerk  making  any  false  entry  or  certificate  of  fjf]^^*/ntj2f  ^y 
any  fact  required  to  be  entered  or  certified  under  the  provisions  ^^®'^^- 
of  this  chapter,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars 
or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  six  months. 

Sec.  20.     The  proof  of  the  registry  of  a  person  in  a  town  other  ^^^^  a^Joter'^ 
than  that  in  which  he  shall  offer  to  vote  shall  be  the  certificate  jjf^a'^to^n  J^fhlj. 
of  the  town  clerk  of  the  town  or  the  clerk  of  the  board  of  can-  l^ZhiSi  hT" 
vassers  and  registration  of  the  city  in  which  he  is  registered.       registered. 

Sec.  21.     The  proof  of  the  payment  of  taxes  upon  real  estate  ^°^l  j{  ^^^"  ^ 
or  personal  property  shall  be  the  certificate  of  the  collector  of  tlx*^co^uectoJ  or 
taxes  or  of  the  town  treasurer ;  and  the  receipt  or  returns  of  the    ^"^    reasurer. 
collector  of  taxes  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  for  the  purpose  of 
procuring  the  certificate  of  the  town  treasurer.     In  case  of  a 
highway  tax,  when  by  law  the  same  may  be  paid,  whether  in 
money  or  labor,  to  a  surveyor  of  highways,  the  receipt  of  such 
surveyor  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  of  such  payment  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  the  certificate  of  the  collector  of  taxes  or 
of  the  town  treasurer. 

Sec.  22.     No  person  who  claims  the  right  to  vote  upon  the  p^^^^gnJ  \^' 
payment  of  a  tax  or  taxes  assessed  against  him  upon  property,  ^^"^  may^^ 
for  aldermen  or  common  councilmen  of  any  city  within  this  council'' o*r^Jn 
state,  or  upon  any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax  or  for  the  expendi-  pl-oposSion. 
ture  of  money  in  any  town  or  city,  shall  by  the  boards  of  can- 
vassers be  admitted  to  vote  for  said  officers  or  upon  any  propo- 
sitions, unless  upon   the  production   of   a  certificate  from   the 
collector  of  taxes,  town  treasurer,  or  clerk  of  the  town  or  city 
in  which  he  resides,  that  before  the  sixth  day  preceding  the  day 
of  such  voting  he  has  paid  such  tax  assessed  against  him  therein 
for  and  within  such  year. 

Sec.    23.     Every    town    clerk,    collector    of    taxes,    or   other  Penalty  for 

.  .  refusal  to  fur- 

omcer  authorized  to  receive  the  taxes  or  ffive  the  certificates,  as  ^i^h  certificate 

^  ^        of  tax-pay- 

hereinbefore  provided,  who  shall  wilfully  refuse  to  grant  the  ™^^*- 

certificate  therein  prescribed  to  any  person  demanding  the  same 

and  legally  entitled  thereto,  or  shall  wilfully  and  fraudulently 

grant  such  certificate  to  any  person  not  legally  entitled  thereto, 


22 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Except  in 
Providence    and 
Pawtucket, 
town  clerks  to 
attend  to  reg- 
istration. 


Who  to  furnish 
certified  lists  of 
voters. 


Who  to,  furnish 
certified  copy 
of    registration 
of   voters   and 
other  records. 


Who  to  furnish 
lists  of  persona 
who  have  paid 
taxes,  and  to 
give  certificate 
of  tax  pay- 
ments. 


shall  be  fined  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  and  every  offence; 
and  in  all  cases,  the  return  of  said  collector,  town  treasurer,  or 
town  clerk  shall  be  deemed  evidence  of  the  payment  of  the  said 
tax  or  taxes. 

Sec.  24.  The  several  town  clerks  shall  be  in  their  respective 
offices,  except  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  to  the  registration  of  voters,  for  the  three 
secular  days  next  preceding  and  including  the  last  secular  day 
of  June  in  each  year,  and  there  to  remain  from  nine  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon  until  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  from  two 
o'clock  to  nine  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  and  shall  attend  to  such 
registration  at  such  other  tinies  as  persons  may  apply  to  be 
registered. 

Sec.  25.  Every  town  or  district  clerk  or  clerk  of  a  board  of 
canvassers  and  registrtaion,  upon  payment  or  tender  of  his 
legal  fees,  which  shall  be  the  same  for  each,  shall  furnish  to  any 
one  demanding  the  same,  a  certified  copy  of  any  list  of  voters 
whose  votes  have  been  given  in  at  any  election. 

Sec.  26.  Every  town  clerk  and  every  clerk  of  a  board  of 
canvassers  and  registration  shall,  upon  like  payment  or  tender, 
furnish  to  any  person  demanding  the  same,  a"  certified  copy  of 
any  registration  of  voters,  and  every  town  clerk  shall  also,  upon 
request  of  any  person  and  tender  of  legal  fees,  and  without  any 
unreasonable  delay,  examine  the  records  and  certify  to  the 
estate  of  any  person,  and  shall  furnish  copies  of  any  instrument 
or  writing  which  may  be  on  record  or  in  the  files  of  his  office. 

Sec.  27,  Every  officer  authorized  to  receive  taxes  shall,  upon 
like  request  and  payment  or  tender,  and  without  unreasonable 
delay,  furnish  to  any  elector  a  certified  list  of  those  who  have 
paid  to  him  state  and  town  taxes,  and  the  amounts  and  times 
of  such  payments;  and  shall  grant  certificates  setting  forth 
whether  a  certain  person  has  or  has  not  paid  to  him  such  taxes, 
and,  if  paid,  to  what  amount  and  at  what  time;  and  every  such 
officer  who   shall  refuse   to   furnish   or  unreasonably   delay  in 


ELECTION   LAWS.  23 

furnishing  such  lists  or  certificates,  upon  payment  or  tender  f^fSSi^J^L 
as  aforesaid,  shall,  for  every  such  offence,  be  fined  not  less  than  ^"^'^^s^- 
twenty-five  dollars  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.    28.     Everv    officer   authorized   to   receive    taxes,    shall  Tax  receivers 

^  to  present  to 

present  to  the  board  of  canvassers,  at  every  meeting  for  the  boards  of  can- 

^  ^  J  D  vassers  lists  of 

purpose  of  canvassing,  alphabetical  lists  of  all  persons  registered  ^^^^^^^^  ifa^^e 

on  or  before  the  last  day  of  June  next  preceding  in  their  respect-  ^^^^  *^^®®' 

ive  towns  and  cities,   who  shall  have  paid  such   officer  their 

taxes,  specifying  the  amount  paid  by  each  and  the  time  when 

such  payment  was  made,  and  that  the  tax  was  assessed  upon 

property  which  has  not  been  before  presented;  except  that  in  the 

cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  such  officer  shall  present 

such  lists  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  at  such 

dates  as  shall  be  required  in  writing  by  said  board,  which  lists 

shall  contain  the  residence  of  each  person  thereon  by  street  and 

number. 

Sec.  29.     Every  officer  authorized  to  receive  taxes,  neglect-  Penalty  for 

.  neglect  or  re* 

mg  or  reiusmg  to  make  such  return  to  the  board  of  canvassers  ^"^^^  to  supply 

lists  of  such 

or  to  the  board  of  canvasesrs  and  registration  as  afore&aid,  shall  taxpayers, 
for  every  such  offence,  be  fined  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars 
nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars. 


CHAPTER  8. 

(As  Amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  640,  Public  Laws.) 

Of  Canvassing  the  Rights  and  Correcting  the  Lists  of 

Voters. 


Section  1.  The  boards  of  canvassers  of  the  several  towns  Annual  meet- 
and  cities  shall  hold  a  meeting  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  canvassers^to 
first  Monday  in  September  in  every  year,  and  shall  make  out  ^«  ^^sts-  ""^ 


First,  Of  all  persons  qualified,  or  who  may  become  qualified.  Separate  lists 
to  vote  generally,  to  wit :     Of  all  persons  entitled  to  vote  under  and  ^?egStry 

voters   rp- 

article  second,  section  first,  of  the  constitution,  and  also  of  all  ^^i^ed. 


24 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Separate  lists 
of  real  estat« 
and  personal 
property 
voters  required, 
distinguishing 
those  who  have 
paid  their 
taxes  from 
those  who  have 
not. 


Voting-lists  to 
de  provided  for 
«ach  ward,  rep- 
resentative-dis- 
trict and  vot- 
ing-district, 
and  posted  in 
publio  places. 


persons  who  are  or  may  be  entitled  by  registry  to  vote  in  their 
respective  towns;  distinguishing  the  persons  registered  who  are 
not  entitled  to  vote  under  article  second,  section  first,  of  the 
constitution ; 

Second,  Separately  from  such  lists,  correct  alphabetical  lists 
of  all  persons  entitled,  or  who  may  become  entitled,  to  vote  upon 
any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax  or  to  expend  money  in  their 
respective  towns,  to  wit :  Of  all  persons  entitled  to  vote  under 
article  second,  section  first,  of  the  constitution,  and  of  every 
person  entitled,  or  who  may  become  entitled,  to  vote  by  the 
payment  of  a  tax  assessed  within  the  year  preceding,  upon  his 
property  in  such  town  valued  at  least  at  one  hundred  and  thirty 
four  dollars,  or  on  whose  property,  valued  as  aforesaid,  a  tax 
has  been  assessed  and  not  paid;  distinguishing  in  the  said  list, 
as  hereinbefore  provided,  those  who  are  not  entitled  to  vote 
under  article  second,  section  first,  of  the  constitution,  and  also 
those,  so  distinguished,  who  have  not  paid  the  taxes  assessed  as 
aforesaid. 

Sec.  2.  (As  amended  by  section  1,  chapter  1609,  Public 
Laws.)  Said  boards  of  canvassers  shall  also,  at  said  annual 
meeting  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Septem- 
ber, canvass  and  make  up  separate  voting-lists  for  their  respec- 
tive cities,  towns,  wards,  representative-districts,  and  voting- 
districts,  which  said  lists  shall  contain  the  alphabetical  lists 
provided  for  in  section  one  of  this  chapter  and  also  the  residence 
of  each  person  thereon  by  street  and  number,  so  far  as  the  same 
can  be  ascertained  and  described  from  the  registry  book  men- 
tioned in  section  one  of  chapter  seven,  and  from  such  other  evi- 
dence as  the  several  boards  of  canvassers  may  require  in  the  case 
of  any  name  on  said  lists.  Said  lists  shall  be,  by  the  town  and 
city  clerks,  printed  and  posted  up  in  at  least  three  public  places 
in  such  towns  as  are  not  divided  into  representative-districts  or 
into  voting-districts ;  and  in  towns  and  cities  divided  into  repre- 
sentative-districts and  not  into  voting-districts,  in  at  least  three 
public  places  in  each  representative-district  or  ward;  and  in 


ELECTION    LAWS.  25 

towTis  and  representative-districts  divided  into  voting-districts, 
in  at  least  one  public  place  in  each  voting-district;  and  in  the 
office  of  the  town  and  city  clerk,  at  least  twenty  days  before  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November;  except  that 
in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  the  lists  provided  to  How  to  be 

posted  in  Provi- 

be  printed  and  posted  up  by  the  city  clerk  shall  be  printed  and  Jj^^l^*"^  ^*''' 
posted  up  in  the  several  voting-districts  by  the  boards  of  can- 
vassers and  registration  in  each  of  said  cities,  and  in  the  office 
of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  in  each  of  said  cities. 
Said  lists  shall  be  open  to  the  examination  of  any  qualified 
elector  at  all  reasonable  times. 

Sec.  3.     Said   boards   of  canvassers  may   meet   and   canvass  y^re^may^' 

the   voting-lists    of   any   representative-district   or   districts    or  J^ss^voting^ 

ward  or  wards  or  voting-district  or  districts  in  any  representa-  other  con- 
venient timea. 
tive-district,  ward,  or  voting-district,  or  at  their  office  or  other 

place  designated  as  aforesaid,  at  any  convenient  time  or  times, 

on  the  same  day  or  different  days,  not  inconsistent  with  the 

provisions  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  4.  Said  boards  of  canvassers  shall  hold  their  last  meet- 
ing not  more  than  seven  nor  less  than  three  days  preceding  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  each  year 
to  further  correct  and  add  to  the  voting-lists,  and  shall  also  Final  canvass 

to  be  made  not 

meet  not  more  than  seven  nor  less  than  three  days  prior  to  any  ™ore  than 

-J      ir  J    seven   nor   less 

other  general  or  special  election  to  further  correct  and  add  to  J^^  ^^^^  ^ 
and  complete  the  voting-lists ;  and  notice  of  the  time  and  place  nodce'^of  wme 
of  such  meeting  shall  be  given,  for  at  least  ten  days  previous  ^ven!^*°*  *°  ^* 
thereto,  by  posting  up  notices  thereof  in  three  or  more  public 
places  in  every  town  not   divided  into  representative-districts 
or  voting-districts,  and  in  other  towns  and  cities  in  each  repre- 
sentative-district,  and  one  in  each  ward,   and  voting-district, 
and  one  in  the  town  or  city  clerk's  office,  and  by  publication  in 
one  of  more  newspapers  published  in  each  town  or  city  if  any 
there   be.     City   and   town   clerks,   immediately   upon   issuing 
notices  for  any   called   town,   ward,   representative-district   or 


26 


Penalty  for 
tearing  down 
or  destroying 
voting-list. 


Names  of  vot- 
ers may  be 
transferred    in 
case  of  change 
of  residence. 


Board  of  can- 
vassers to  cor- 
rect  voting- 
lists   at    each 
meeting. 


Name  not  to  be 
stricken    from 
voting-list 
without  proof 
of  disqualifica- 
tion. 


Census  of  quali 
fied  electors 
may  be  taken 
by  police. 


ELECTION   LAWS. 

voting-district  meetings  or  for  any  special  election,  shall  notify 
the  board  of  canvassers  thereof. 

Sec  5.  Every  person  who  shall  unlawfully  take  down,  de- 
face or  destroy  any  list  of  voters  posted  up  as  aforesaid,  shall 
be  fined  three  hundred  dollars  or  be  imprisoned  three  months. 

Sec.  6.  Said  boards  of  canvassers  in  the  several  towns  and 
cities  shall,  unless  otherwise  provided  by  law,  transfer  the  names 
of  electors  who  shall  have  removed  from  one  ward  into  another, 
or  from  one  representative-district  into  another,  or  from  one 
voting-district  into  another,  to  the  voting-list  of  the  ward  or 
representative-district  or  voting-district  in  which  they  reside 
at  the  time  of  canvassing  such  lists. 

Sec.  7.  ,Said  boards  of  canvassers  shall,  at  their  several 
meetings,  correct  the  lists,  and  add  to  the  lists  of  voters  the 
names  of  all  persons  qualified  to  vote  whose  names  shall  not  be 
on  the  list  of  voters. 

Sec.  8.  No  name  shall  be  stricken  from  any  voting-lists  by 
any  board  of  canvassers,  unless  proof  shall  be  presented  to  said 
board  that  such  name  is  the  name  of  a  person  not  qualified  to 
vote,  or  who  may  not  be  qualified  according  to  the  provisions 
of  this  title. 

Sec.  9.  Upon  the  request  in  writing  of  the  board  of  can- 
vassers of  any  city  or  town,  the  chief  of  police,  or  town  sergeant,, 
as  the  case  may  be,  shall  cause  a  census  to  be  made  of  the 
qualified  electors  of  such  city  or  town,  or  any  representative  or 
voting-district  or  districts  therein,  specifying,  if  possible,  the 
street  and  number  of  each  such  elector's  residence,  and  shall 
forthwith  furnish  such  original  census  or  certified  copy  thereof 
to  said  board.  Such  chief  of  police  or  town  sergeant  shall 
furnish  to  said  board,  upon  request  in  writing,  such  information 
as  said  board  may  require  concerning  the  residence  and  right 
to  vote  of  any  person  whose  name  appears  ':pon  the  registry 
book  of  said  city  or  town  or  upon  any  voting-list  thereof. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  '  27 


can- 
vassers fraudu- 


Sec.  10.     If  any  board  of  canvassers,  at  any  meeting  holden  f^^^^l 
for  the  purpose  of  correcting  the  lists  of  voters  as  hereinbefore  J.r'^rlmJvhig^ 
provided,  shall  wilfully  and  fraudulently  place  upon  the  list  iliT^atr™ 

,  -11  1  subject  to 

of  voters  the  name  of  any  person  who  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  or  penalty. 
if  it  shall  wilfully  and  fraudulently  reject  or  refuse  to  add  to 
said  list,  or  shall  erase  or  cause  to  be  erased  from  said  list,  the 
name  of  any  person  entitled  to  vote,  every  member  of  such 
board  so  offending  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  hundred  dol- 
lars and  not  more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  11.     Whenever  the  board  of  canvassers  of  any  town  or  Right  of  peti- 

,,.  fl    -r->         •  ^  j-iiT         ^^^^  ^  supreme 

city,  except  of  the  city  of  Providence,  at  any  meeting  holden  court  in  case 

name  is  wrong- 

for  the  purpose  of  canvassing  the  rights  and  correcting  the  lists  *"'"^"J^*^^  ^^ 
of  voters,  shall  reject,  or  shall  cause  to  be  erased  from  the  voting-  voting-iist. 
lists,  the  name  of  any  person  qualified  to  vote,  the  person  whose 
name  said  board  of  canvassers  has  rejected,  or  erased  from  said 
list,  may  file  his  petition  in  the  supreme  court,  setting  forth  his 
residence,  his  qualifications,  and  such  other  facts  in  connection 
with  the  rejection,  or  erasure  of  his  name  from  such  list,  as  he 
may  deem  material,  and  praying  that  his  name  be  added  to 
said  list. 

Sec.  12.     Upon  the  filing  of  said  petition  the  supreme  court  in  case  of  such 
shall,  upon  application,  forthwith  cause  the  members  and  clerk  of  canvassers 

J,. TIT/.  1-1  111  .^tobe  cited  be- 

01  said  board  or  canvassers  to  be  cited  to  appear  before  said  fore  court, 
court,  at  a  time  and  place  to  be  named  in  said  citation,  to  show 
cause  why  the  prayer  of  said  petitioner  should  not  be  granted. 

Sec.   13.     If,  upon  hearing,   said  court  shall   find  that  the  court  may 

(,        •  ^  •   .  .  •   1     T  1  make  such 

name  oi  said  petitioner  is  not  entitled  to  be  placed  or  to  remain  order  as  it  may 

deem  proper. 

upon  said  voting-list,  said  petition  shall  be  dismissed.  If, 
however,  said  court  shall  find  that  the  name  of  said  petitioner  is 
entitled  to  be  placed  upon  such  voting-list,  the  said  court  shall, 
by  decree,  order  such  name  to  be  placed  upon  said  list.  A  copy 
of  such  decree  shall  be  filed  with  the  clerk  of  the  board  of  can- 
vassers, and  thereupon  said  clerk  shall,  without  action  on  the 
part  of  said  board,  place  said  name  on  said  voting-list. 


28 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Voting-lists  to 
be  certified  by 
presiding  offi- 
cers of  boards 
and  delivered 
to  town  clerks. 


Town  clerks  to 
deliver  lisrts  to 
election  ofll- 


Penalty  for 
neglect  of  duty. 


Board  of  can- 
vassers not  to 
be  liable  for 
any  omissions 
of  which  they 
do  not  receive 
proof. 


Votes  on  ad- 
mitting or  re- 
jecting names 
of  voters  to  be 
recorded  by 
clerk  of  board 
of  canvassers. 


Sec.  14.  The  lists  of  voters  so  corrected  shall  be,  by  said 
boards  of  canvassers,  certified  by  their  respective  presiding 
officers,  and  on  the  same  day,  except  in  the  city  of  Pawtucket, 
shall  be  delivered  to  the  respective  'town  and  city  clerks. 

Sec.  15.  From  the  lists  so  corrected,  and  before  the  time 
fixed  for  any  election,  the  clerk  of  each  town  and  city,  except  in 
the  city  of  Pawtucket  where  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  city 
shall  deliver  to  the  moderator  of  the  town  meeting  or  repre- 
sentative-district meeting,  or  voting-district  meeting  or  ward 
meeting  to  be  held  therein,  separate  certified  lists  of  the  voters 
qualified  to  vote  at  each  of  such  meetings. 

Sec.  16.  Every  member  of  the  board  of  canvassers  and 
every  other  person  entrusted  with  any  corrected  lists  of  voters 
who  shall  wilfully  neglect  to  deliver  such  list  as  required  by 
law,  shall  he  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  17.  The  boards  of  canvassers,  in  case  they  shall  have 
entered  on  said  lists  the  names  of  all  persons  returned  to  them 
by  said  town  or  city  clerks,  shall  not  be  held  answerable  for 
any  omission  in  said  lists,  nor  for  refusing  to  place  on  said  lists 
the  name  of  any  person  omitted  in  the  lists  to  them  delivered  as 
aforesaid,  unless  at  one  of  their  said  meetings  they  shall  be 
furnished  with  sufficient  evidence  of  such  omission,  and  of  the 
qualifications  as  a  voter  of  the  person  whose  name  is  omitted. 

Sec.  18.  The  respective  town  clerks,  and  the  clerks  of  the 
boards  of  canvassers  and  registration,  shall  record  the  votes  of 
the  mem.bers  of  the  board  of  canvassers  upon  admitting  or 
rejecting  the  name  of  any  person  from  the  list  of  voters,  when- 
ever they  shall  be  requested  thereto  by  any  member  of  said 
board,  or  by  any  qualified  elector  of  said  town  or  city,  present 
at  the  time  of  canvassing,  a  certified  copy  of  which  record  shall 
be  evidence  of  the  facts  therein  stated ;  and  for  any  wilful  neglect 
on  the  part  of  said  clerk  to  make  said  record,  whenever  requested 
as  aforesaid,  he  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  19.  Any  person  who  shall  at  any  time  wilfully  and 
fraudulently  add  a  name  to  any  list  of  voters,  or  erase  any  name 


ELECTION   LAWS.  29 


therefrom,  after  the  same  has  been  corrected  and  certified  as  frlSent^ 
aforesaid,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars  nor  f^^^f „Je^  Jj^" 
more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  20.     The  members  of  the  boards  of  canvassers,  and  the  compensation 

of  Doaros  of 

clerks  of  such  boards  in  the  several  towns  where  no  other  pro-  S^e"kB*"^ 
vision  is  made  by  law,  shall  be  paid  two  dollars  each,  by  their 
respective  towns,  for  every  day^s  attendance  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties;  and  the  town  clerks  shall  be  paid,  in  addition, 
legal  fees  for  making  out  and  recording  the  several  lists  and 
returns  in  this  chapter  required. 

Sec.  21.     The  voting-districts  as  now  respectively  established  tT?cte?n*^'^rtain 
in    the    towns    of    Coventry,    Hopkinton,    Johnston,    Scituate,  main^as^now 
Smithfield,  South  Kingstown,  and  Tiverton,  shall  remain  as  at  SKre'lboi- 
present  constituted,  unless  the  same  shall  be  hereafter  changed 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  towns  respectively.       The 
voting-districts  now  established  in  a  town  or  city  other  than 
in  the  towns  mentioned  in  this  section  are  hereby  abolished. 

Sec.  22.  The  board  of  canvassers  of  any  town  or  city  may,  ^o^Z  ot  can- 
on or  before  the  tenth  day  of  September  in  any  year,  divide  or  ItTvoting- '^''^' 
redivide  such  town,  or  any  representative-district  in  such  town 
or  city,  into  voting-districts.  The  board  of  canvassers  of  each 
city  shall,  before  the  tenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  1910, 
divide  the  representative-districts  of  such  city  which  comprise 
parts  of  two  or  more  wards,  into  voting-districts.  No  voting- 
district  shall  at  any  time  comprise  parts  of  two  or  more  wards. 
Said  board  of  canvassers  upon  the  dividing  or  redividing  of  a 
representative-district  shall  give  public  notice  of  what  repre- 
sentative-districts have  been  divided  or  redivided  into  voting- 
districts  by  publication  in  some  newspaper  having  a  general 
circulation  in  said  city  or  town,  and  shall  post,  for  a  period  of 
forty  days,  a  map  in  the  office  of  said  board  or  in  the  town  clerk's 
office,  as  the  case  may  be,  showing  the  lines  of  said  voting-dis- 
tricts, and  shall  at  all  times  keep  the  same  on  file  in  their  re- 
repective  offices. 


districts. 


30 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


CHAPTER  9. 

(As  Amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  640,  and  Sections  1 
AND  2,  Chapter  781,  Public  Laws.) 

Of  Elective  Meetings. 


Town  meetings 
for  election, 
how  warned 
and  organized. 


Ward  meetings 
for  election, 
how  warned 
and  organized. 


Representative 
and  voting-dig- 
trict  meetings 
for  election, 
how  warned 
and    organized. 


Section  1.  Town  meetings  for  purposes  of  election  shall  be 
warned  and  organized  as  is  or  may  be  provided  by  law  for  the 
warning  and  organization  of  town  meetings  for  other  purposes, 
unless  otherwise  specially  directed,  and  shall  be  held  at  the  times 
by  law  appointed. 

Sec.  2.  Ward  meetings  in  cities  for  like  purposes  shall  be 
warned  and  organized  as  is  or  may  be  by  law,  or  by  the  charters 
of  such  cities  provided,  and  shall  be  held  at  the  times  by  law 
appointed;  and  the  city  clerk  of  the  city  of  Providence  shall, 
in  the  warrant  calling  such  meetings,  state  the  time  of  the  rising 
of  the  sun  on  the  days  of  such  meetings :  Provided,  that  in  the 
city  of  Pawtucket  such  meetings  shall  be  warned  by  the  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration. 

Sec.  3.  Representative-district  meetings  and  voting-district 
meetings  for  the  purposes  of  election  shall  be  warned  and  organ- 
ized as  is  or  may  be  by  law  provided,  and  notice  of  all  such 
meetings  shall  be  given  by  the  city  or  town  clerk  issuing  his 
warrant,  directed  to  the  town  sergeant  or  one  of  the  constables 
of  such  city  or  towm,  directing  him  to  post,  at  least  seven  days 
before  the  day  appointed  for  such  meetings,  written  notifica- 
tions in  three  or  more  public  places  in  each  voting-district,  and 
in  each  representative-district  not  divided  into  voting-districts, 
of  the  time  when,  and  place  where,  such  meeting  is  to  be  holden, 
and  of  the  business  required  by  law  to  be  transacted  therein, 
and  stating  in  such  warrant  the  time  of  the  opening  and  closing 
of  the  polls  at  each  elective  meeting  to  be  held  in  such  city  or 
town :  Provided,  that  in  the  city  of  Pawtucket  such  notice  shall 
be  given  and  posted  by  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  31 

Sec.  4.     The  officer  charged  with  .the  service  of  said  warrant  ^^^l^^Yj^^ 
shall,  previous  to  said  meetings,  make  return  to  the  respective  mSe'^^eturn  to 
district  clerks  of  his  doings  upon  said  warrant.  district  clerks. 

Sec.  5.     In  the  election  of  general  officers,  representatives  in  in  ^^^^^f^^'^*^^" 
<}ongress,   and   electors   of  president  and  vice-president   of  the  ^^Jp^  ^^^^^  ^^j!* 
United  States,  and  of  city  officers  of  all  cities,  and  in  the  election  j^^^t^e  who^e^ 
of  senators   and   representatives   in  the   general   assembly,   the 
town,  ward,  representative-district,  and  voting-district  meetings 
of  the  several  cities  and  towns  shall  be  kept  open  for  voting  dur- 
ing the  whole  time  of  voting  for  the  day. 

Sec.  6.     Voting-district  meetings  in  towns  which  are  or  may  J^^J  ^  ^^^ 
be  divided  into  voting-districts  for  the  purpose  of  election,  and  JS'toifinT 
voting-district  meetings  in  representative-districts  which  are  or  ^^^^*^<^^'»- 
may  be  divided  into  voting-districts  for  the  purposes  of  election, 
and  representative-district  meetings  in  towns  which  are  or  may 
l>e  divided  into  representative-districts  which  are  not   divided 
into  voting-districts,  shall  be  held  within  the  respective  districts 
by  the  electors  thereof  at  the  times  by  law  appointed  and  at 
places  designated  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  the  respective 
cities  and  towns;  and  the  moderator  and  clerk,  when  present, 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  of  electors  for  the  opening  of  the  polls 
for  voting  for  all  civil  officers,  except  for  moderator  and  clerk. 

Sec.  7.     A  meeting  of  the  electors  of  every  tow^n,  represen-  National  and 

°  J  :>        r  g^^^^    electiong 

tative-district  not   divided   into  voting-districts,   and   of   every  ^  be  hew  on 

°  •'  "^    Tuesday  next 

voting-district  shall  be  held  annually  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  jay^'irf  Nov^m^' 
the  first  Monday  in  November  at  a  place  to  be  designated  and  ^^^' 
furnished  by  the  boards  of  canvassers  of  the  respective  towns 
and  cities,  at  the  expense  of  such  towns  and  cities,  respectively, 
for  the  purpose  of  organization,  and  voting  for  general  officers, 
senators,  and  representatives  in  the  general  assembly,  represen- 
tatives in  congress,  and  electors  of  president  and  vice-president 
of  the  United  States,  if  to  be  chosen,  and  for  such  other  officers 
as  are  to  be  chosen  on  that  day. 

Sec.  8.     The  officers  of  a  representative-district  not  divided 
into  voting-districts,  and  of  a  voting-district,  shall  be  a  modera- 


32  ELECTION   LAWS. 

Officers  of  a       j-qj.  ^nd  a  clerk.     Such  moderator  shall  preside  in  all  meetings 

polling-place  to  x  o 

and"S^?r*°^  of  his  district  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified.  He 
telSTof^office.  shall  have  the  same  authority  in  said  meetings  as  moderators  of 
town  meetings  have,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  penalties 
for  wilful  violation  or  neglect  of  duty.  Such  clerk  shall  keep 
a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  meetings  in  his  district,  and, 
.after  a  choice  of  officers  in  his  district,  sliall,  in  writing  duly 
certified,  notify  the  town  or  city  clerk  thereof :  Provided,  that 
in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  such  notification  shall 
be  made  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration. 

Au  town  and  Sec.  9.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1519,  Public 

certain  elective  ^  "^  ^ 

™^n^d^  d°  ^^   Laws.)  '  All  town  meetings  and  elective  meetings  for  the  election 
8pedfi?d^"in\he    ^^  general  officers,  senators  and  representatives  in  the  general 
tions!""^  ®^^"      assembly,  representatives  in  congress  and  electors  of  president 
and  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  opened  at  a 
■     specified  hour  in  the  forenoon  and  shall  be  continuously  kept 
open  for  voting  until  a  specified  hour  in  the  afternoon,  as  pro- 
vided in  Sections  10  and  11  of  this  chapter. 
mitt%*'?o  be        Sec.  10.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapters  T81  and  1519, 
cpene  ,  when,     p^j^jj^,  Laws.)     All  elective  meetings  in  the  cities  and  to^vns 
herein  named  shall  be  opened  as  follows :     In  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence, at  6  :00  A.  M. ;  in  the  town  of  West  Warwick,  at  5  :30 
A.  M. ;  in  the  first  representative-district  of  the  town  of  War- 
wick, at  5  :45  A.  M. ;  in  the  city  of  Cranston,  at  6  :00  A.  M. ;  in 
the  city  of  Newport  and  the  town  of  Johnston,  at  6  :30  A.  M. ; 
in  the  cities  of  Central  Falls,  Pawtucket  and  Woonsocket,  and 
in  the  towns  of  Barrington,  Burrillville,  New  Shoreham,  North 
Kingstown,  North  Providence  and  in  the  second  representative- 
district  of  the  town  of  Warwick,  at  8  :00  A.  M. ;  in  the  towns  of 
Bristol,  Cumberland,  East  Providence,  Lincoln,  Scituate,  South 
Kingstown,  Tiverton  and  Westerly,  at  9  :00  A.  M. ;  and  in  the 
towns  of  Charlestown,  Coventry,  East  Greenwich,  Exeter,  Fos- 
ter, Glocester,  Hopkinton,  Jamestown,  Little  Compton,  Middle- 
town,  Narrangansett,  North  Smithfield,  Portsmouth,  Richmond, 
Smithfield,  Warren  and  West  Greenwich,  at  10:00  A.  M. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  33 

Sec.  11.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  781,  and  Sec-  ^ietfni*^,  ^ 
tion  1,  Chapters  1519,  and  1625,  Public  Laws.)  Elective  meet-  gpt'^o^'^^^m- 
ings  in  the  cities  and  towns  herein  named  shall  be  continuously 
kept  open  for  voting  until  the  hour  specified  and  no  longer,  as 
follows :  In  the  towns  of  Charlestown,  Exeter,  Foster,  Glocester, 
Little  Compton,  Middletown,  Portsmouth,  Richmond,  Tiverton 
and  West  Greenwich,  until  3:00  P.  M.;  in  the  town  of  New 
Shoreham,  until  4:00  P.  M. ;  in  the  towns  of  Coventry,  East 
Greenwich,  Hopkinton,  Narrangansett,  North  Kingstown,  North 
Smithfield,  Scituate,  Smithfield,  South  Kingstown,  Warwick, 
Westerly  and  West  Warwick,  until  5  :00  P.  M. ;  in  the  towns  of 
Jamestown  and  North  Providence,  until  6  :00  P.  M. ;  in  the  city 
of  Newport  and  the  town  of  Burrillville,  until  6  :30  P.  M. ;  and 
in  the  cities  of  Central  Falls,  Cranston,  Pawtucket,  Providence 
and  Woonsocket,  and  in  the  towns  of  Cumberland,  Johnston  and 
Lincoln,  until  7 :00  P.  M. ;  in  the  towns  of  Barrington  and  War- 
ren, until  7:30  P.  M.;  and  in  the  towns  of  Bristol  and  East 
Providence,  until  8:00  P.  M. 

Sec.  12.     The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  govern  elective  Provisions  of 
meetings  held   in  accordance  with   the   provisions   of  chapter  f^^^ew^ 
eleven,  if  and  so  far  as  they  are  applicable  and  not  inconsistent  bafiot^w^* 
with  the  provisions  of  said  chapter  eleven. 


CHAPTER  10.  Sai,.^ 

March  21,  IfiOl. 
14  R.   I.   207. 

Of  the  Manner  of  Conducting  Elections.  le  r.  l  42. 

17  R.  L  391. 
25  R.   I.   622. 

Section  1.     (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  640,  Public  „  „  . , 

Jd9J[10  X-  DOXGS 

Laws. )  The  city  clerks  of  the  several  cities  other  than  the  cities  pj^rnaiif  g*^' 
of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  and  the  boards  of  canvassers  and  p^^<*^<^- 
registration  in  said  cities,  and  the  town  clerks  of  the  several 
towns  shall,  at  the  expense  of  their  respective  cities  and  towns, 
furnish  a  sufficient  number  of  ballot  boxes  and  all  other  para- 
phernalia necessary  for  the  conduct  of  elections  for  the  voting- 
places  in  their  respective  cities  and  towns,  and  shall  see  that 
such  boxes  are  kept  in  proper  condition  for  use  and  that  each 
3 


34 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Form  of  ballot- 
boxes  and  how 
used. 


What  votes  to 
be  received, 
and  what  re- 
jected. 
13  R.  I.  V29, 


Penalty  for 
illegal  rejection 
or  reception  of 
vote. 


Voter  to   an- 
nounce his 
name,  and 
name  to  be 
repeated  and 
checked  before 
voting. 


Voter  to  depos- 
it ballot,  in 
what  manner. 


voting-place  is  supplied  with  the  required  number  of  such  boxes 
on  the  day  of  every  town,  ward,  or  district  meeting  held  thereat. 

Sec.  2.  Said  ballot-boxes  shall  have  a  sufficient  opening  in 
the  top  to  receive  the  ballots,  and  shall  in  open  town,  ward,  and 
district  meeting,  and  before  the  balloting  has  commenced,  be 
opened  and  exhibited  to  all  present;  after  which  they  shall  be 
kept  closed  and  locked,  and  shall  not  by  the  moderator  or  war- 
den, nor  by  any  other  person  whomsoever  upon  any  pretext 
whatever,  be  opened  until  the  balloting  be  completed,  and  shall 
be  in  charge  of  the  moderators  and  wardens  only. 

Sec.  3.  The  moderator  or  warden  of  any  town,  ward,  or  dis- 
trict meeting  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all  persons  whose  names 
are  upon  the  list  of  voters  certified  and  delivered  to  him  by  the 
officer  designated  by  law,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  per- 
sons attempting  to  vote  whose  names  are  not  on  said  list. 

Sec.  4.  Every  moderator  or  warden  whose  duty  it  is  to  re- 
ceive ballots,  and  every  town,  ward,  or  district  clerk,  who  shall 
reject  the  ballot  of  any  voter  whose  name  is  on  the  town,  ward, 
or  district  list,  or  who  shall  receive  the  ballot  of  any  person 
whose  name  is  not  upon  the  town,  ward,  or  district  list,  or  who 
shall  place  or  permit  to  be  placed  in  or  abstract  or  permit  to  be 
abstracted  from  the  ballot-box,  or  from  the  ballots  during  the 
counting  thereof,  any  ballot,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  five 
hundred  dollars  nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars  or  be  im- 
prisoned not  less  than  one  year  nor  more  than  five  years,  either 
or  both,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court:  Provided,  that  nothing 
herein  shall  be  construed  to  prevent  the  lawful  depositing  of  the 
ballot  of  such  moderator,  warden,  or  clerk. 

Sec.  5.  Every  voter  shall  at  the  time  of  voting  announce 
his  name  to  the  moderator  or  warden,  who  shall  pronounce  the 
same  aloud  and  cause  it  to  be  checked  upon  the  voting-list  by 
the  clerk  before  the  voter  deposits  his  ballot  or  enters  any  voting- 
machine. 

Sec.  6.  In  voting  by  ballot  every  voter  shall  also  hold  in  his 
hand  and  deposit  in  said  ballot-box  his  ballot  or  ballots  in  such" 


ELECTION   LAWS.  35 

a  manner  that  said  moderator  and  warden  can  distinctly  see 
that  he  deposits  but  one  ballot  of  a  kind. 

Sec.  7.     After  the  voting  in  any  town,  ward,  or  district  meet-  bln?ts""°^  *^^ 
ing  shall  be  closed,  the  moderator  or  warden  and  the  clerk  of  ^^^-  ^^^^'g^ 
such  meeting  shall  in  open  meeting  proceed  to  count  the  ballots,  ^^^" 
and  the  moderator  or  warden  shall  announce  the  result. 

Sec.  8.     The  moderator  or  warden  and  clerk  of  such  meet-  Record  of 

elective  meet- 
ing shall  make  a  record  in  ink,  in  a  book  to  be  provided  for  tliat  b"^wh?)m^  *^^d*^ 
purpose  by  the  secretary  of  state :  J^^^^*  ^^  ^°"' 

First,  Of  the  date  of  such  meeting; 

Second,  Of  the  number  of  names  checked  upon  the  voting- 
list  used  at  such  meeting; 

Third,  Of  the  number  of  votes  cast  thereat  for  each  candidate, 
and  for  what  office; 

Fourth,  Of  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  and  against  any 
proposition  of  amendment  of  the  constitution;  and 

Fifth,  Of  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  and  against  any  ques- 
tion which  has  been  voted  upon  at  said  meeting,  and  shall  each 
sign  such  record  in  ink.  Said  book  shall  in  no  case  be  enclosed 
in  any  package  containing  ballots,  but  shall  be  taken  by  the 
moderator  or  warden  of  said  meeting,  upon  the  adjournment 
thereof,  and  be  by  him  kept  separate  and  apart  from  said  ballots, 
where  it  will  not  be  exposed  to  loss  or  destruction  with  them, 
tod  be  by  him  delivered  in  person  to  the  clerk  of  the  to^vn  or 
city  in  which  such  meeting  was  held,  within  twelve  hours  after 
such  record  is  made  and  signed.  In  case  the  ballots,  or  any  of 
them,  given  in  at  such  meeting  are  lost  or  destroyed,  the  record 
in  such  book  shall  be  evidence  of  the  matters  therein  contained 
and  may  be  used  in  the  same  manner  as  such  ballots  might  have 
been  by  the  board  or  council  authorized  to  make  the  final  count 
thereof.  The  record  of  each  class  of  ballots  shall  be  made  in 
said  book  before  they  are  sealed  up  as  provided  in  this  chapter. 

Sec.  9.     When  the  counting  of  the  ballots  ffiven  in  at  such  Ballots  to  be 

^  "  sealed  up. 

meeting  is  completed,  and  the  result  thereof  has  been  announced,   ''■^'*'  ' 

the  moderator  or  warden  and  clerk  shall  forthwith  seal  up  such 


36  ELECTION   LAWS. 

ballots  in  open  meeting,  together  with  the  certificate  provided  for 
in  section  twelve  of  this  chapter,  by  enclosing  them  in  stout  paper 

Method  of  seal-  and  binding  the  package  with  suitable  cord  or  twine  and  affixing 
to  the  package  adhesive  labels  sufficient  in  number  to  prevent  the 
abstraction  of  any  ballots  from  or  the  adding  of  any  ballots  to 
the  contents  of  such  package,  and  the  moderator  or  warden  and 
clerk  of  the  meeting  shall  affix  their  signatures  in  ink  to  each  of 

Labels  to  be       g^id  labels.     ^^Hieuever  both  of  the  officers  whose  duty  it  is  to 

signed,  by  -^ 

whom.  gigjj^  g^g]^  labels' are  of  the  same  political  party,  they  shall  also 

allow  some  elector  of  another  political  party  to  affix  his  signature 
in  ink  to  all  of  such  labels :  Provided,  that  in  towns  not  divided 
into  voting-districts  the  ballots  cast  for  town  officers  need  not  be 
so  sealed. 

bauotf^oi  to  ^^^'  ^^'  (^®  amended  by  Section  5,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Md*e^^^.  Laws.)  The  packages  so  sealed  up  shall  each  be  addressed  to 
the  board  or  council  to  which  they  are  to  be  delivered  and  be 
plainly  endorsed  in  ink,  by  the  clerk  of  such  meeting,  with : 

First,  The  name  of  the  town  or  city  where  such  meeting  was 
held; 

Second,  The  number  of  the  voting-district,  if  it  be  a  voting 
district  meeting ; 

Third,  The  number  of  the  representative-district  and  of  the 
voting-district  therein  if  it  be  a  representative  voting-district 
meeting ; 

Fourth,  The  number  of  the  ward,  if  it  be  a  ward-meeting ; 

Fifth,  The  number  of  the  ward  and  of  the  voting-district 
therein,  if  it  be  a  ward  district  meeting ; 

Sixth,  The  day,  month,  and  year  of  holding  such  meeting;  and 

Seventh,  The  class  or  classes  of  ballots  which  such  package 
contains. 

Ballots,  how  to       ^^^'  11-     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1033,  Public 

Pub^Mws?"      I^aws.)     The  ballots  given  at  any  such  meeting  for  electors  oi 

S  ^"^  ^'     president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  senators  and 

representatives  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  general 

officers  of  the  state,  senators  and  representatives  in  the  general 


ELECTION    LAWS.  87 

issembly,  and  ballots  given  in  at  any  such  meeting  upon  any 
proposed  amendment  of  the  constitution,  and  upon  any  question 
>r  questions  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state,  shall  be  sealed 
ip  in  one  package,  which  shall  contain  no  other  ballots.  In 
dties  and  in  towns  divided  into  voting-districts  the  ballots  given 
n  at  any  such  meeting  for  city  and  town  officers,  for  ward  and 
roting-district  officers,  and  for  and  against  any  question  sub- 
nitted  to  the  electors  of  such  city  or  to^Ti  shall  be  sealed  up  in 
)ne  package  containing  no  ballots  given  in  for  any  other  officers, 
)r  for  or  against  any  proposition  or  question  submitted  to  the 
electors  of  the  state. 


Sec.  12.     (As  amended  by  Section  6,  Chapter  640,  and  Section  Form  of  oertj- 

flcate  to  be 

?,  Chapter  1033,  Public  Laws.)     With  each  package  of  ballots  forwarded  with 
;here  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  board  or  council  to  whom  such 
>ackage  is  to  be  delivered,  a  certificate  in  ink  signed  by  the  mod- 
erator and  clerk  of  the  elective  meeting,  setting  forth  in  regard 
:o  said  meeting  and  the  ballots  enclosed  in  said  package : 

First,  The  number  of  names  checked  upon  the  voting  list  J^^t  to  set 
ised  at  such  meeting ; 

Second,  The  number  of  such  ballots  for  each  candidate  and 
'or  what  office ; 

Third,  The  number  of  such  ballots,  if  any,  cast  for  and  against 
my  proposition  of  amendment  of  the  constitution  ; 

Fourth,  The  number  of  such  ballots,  if  any,  cast  for  and 
igainst  any  question  submitted  to  the  electors ; 

Fifth,  That  such  ballots  are  all  the  ballots  that  were  given  in  at 
lUch  meeting  for  such  candidates  or  for  and  against  any  such 
)roposition  or  question ; 

Sixth,  The  date  of  such  meeting; 

Seventh,  The  city  or  town  and  the  number  of  the  representa- 
ive-district,  ward  or  voting-district,  in  which  such  meeting  was 
leld. 

Said  certificate  shall  not  be  enclosed  in  the  package  with  the 
-lallots,  but  shall  be  sealed  up  in  a  separate  envelope  addressed  to 
he  board  or  council  to  whom  the  package  is  to  be  delivered. 


38 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Of  the  delivery 
of  ballots  to 
state  return- 
ing board. 
Pub.  Laws, 
1229,   April  26.' 
1905. 


Of  the  delivery 
of  ballots  cast 
in  cities  other 
than  Provi- 
dence and 
towns  divided 
into   voting- 
districts. 
Pub.   Laws, 
1229,   April  26, 
1905. 

16  R.   L   766. 
IT  R.   L   415. 


Cities  of  Provi- 
dence and  Paw- 
tucket. 


The  envelope  containing  such  certificate  may  be  opened,  and  the 
information  contained  thereon  tabulated  for  public  use,  by  the 
secretary  or  clerk,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  the  board  or  council  to 
whom  such  envelope  is  addressed,  at  any  time  after  the  receipt 
thereof. 

Sec.  13.  (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1033,  Public 
Laws.)  In  all  cities  and  towns  the  packages  containing  the 
ballots  for  electors  of  pjesident  and  vice-president,  senators  and 
representatives  in  congress,  general  officers,  senators  and  repre- 
sentatives in  the  general  assembly,  and  for  or  against  any  proposi- 
tion of  amendment  of  the  constitution  or  question  submitted  to 
the  electors  of  the  state,  after  such  ballots  have  been  counted, 
declared,  sealed  and  endorsed  as  hereinbefore  provided,  shall  be 
delivered  in  person  by  the  clerk  of  such  meeting,  to  the  state 
returning-board  within  forty-eight  hours  after  they  have  been 
sealed.  Upon  the  receipt  of  said  packages  the  secretary  of  said 
returning-board  shall  give  to  the  person  so  delivering  them  a 
certificate  of  such  delivery,  on  presentation  of  which  to  the  town 
or  city  council  such  person  shall  be  paid  ten  cents  for  each  mile's 
travel  to  and  from  the  office  of  the  said  returning-board,  to  be 
computed  from  the  place  of  voting. 

Sec.  14.  In  cities  other  than  the  cities  of  Providence  and 
Pawtucket,  and  in  towns  divided  into  voting-districts,  the  pack- 
ages containing  the  ballots  cast  at  any  such  meeting  for  city  and 
town  officers,  and  voting-district,  ward,  and  ward-voting-district 
officers,  and  for  and  against  any  question  submitted  to  the 
electors  of  such  city  or  town,  after  such  ballots  have  been 
counted,  recorded,  sealed,  and  endorsed  as  hereinbefore  provided, 
shall  be  delivered  in  person  by  the  clerk  of  such  meeting  to  the 
clerk  of  the  city  or  town  where  such  meeting  was  held  within 
twelve  hours  after  such  sealing  is  done. 

Sec.  15.  In  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  the  pack- 
ages containing  the  ballots  described  in  section  fourteen  of  this 
chapter,  given  in  at  any  such  meeting,  after  such  ballots  have 
been  counted,  recorded,  sealed,  and  endorsed  as  hereinbefore  pro- 


ELECTION   LAWS.  39 

vided^  shall  be  delivered  in  person  by  the  clerk  of  such  meeting  to 
the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  within  twelve  hours 
after  such  sealing  is  done. 

Sec.  16.     In  cities  other  than  the  city  of  Providence,  and  in  o*  adjourned 

•^  '  meetings  of 

towns  divided  into  voting-districts,  ward  and  district  meetings  electors. 

^  '    ,  .  *=      16  R.   I.   761.    . 

held  therein  respectively  for  the  election  of  city,  town,  ward,  and  is  R-  i-  258. 
voting-district  officers,  or  of  any  of  them,  shall  at  the  time. of 
closing  the  polls  therein  described  by  law  stand  adjourned  to  the 
,  seventh  day  next  from  and  after  the  day  so  appointed  unless  the 
said  seventh  day  shall  fall  on  a  holiday,  and  in  that  event  to  the 
day  following  said  holiday,  with  like  adjournment  therefrom : 
Provided,  however,  that  in  Westerly  and  Hopkinton  there  shall 
be  no  election  held  on  Saturday,  and  if  the  day  of  any  such 
adjournment  fall  on  Saturday  the  meeting  shall  stand  adjourned 
to  the  Monday  following. 

Sec.  17.     If  in  any  case  in  a  town  not  divided  into  votinsr-  of  re-opening 

^  *=*      polls  m  towns 

districts  there  shall  be  no  election  of  the  town  officers  voted  for  P°j^  dmded 

into  voting- 

who  are  required  to  be  elected  by  the  people,  or  of  any  of  them,  ^^»*"^^8- 
the  polls  may  be  re-opened  and  the  like  proceedings  shall  be  had 
until  an  election  takes  place.  In  such  towns,  after  the  declara- 
tion of  the  results  of  the  voting  for  town  officers,. the  town  clerks 
shall  give  certificates  of  their  election  to  the  persons  elected  town 
officers. 

Sec.  18.     In  cities  other  than  the  cities  of  Providence  and  P"^-  Laws, 

1229,   April  2«, 

Pawtucket  and  in  towns  divided  into  voting-districts  the  boards  }^^-  ,  ,_ 

*-'  17  K.  1.   415. 

of  aldermen  and  town  councils  shall  be  in  session  on  the  day 

following  any  election  for  city,  town,  ward,  and  voting-district 

officers,  or  for  any  of  them,  and  shall  in  open  meeting  count  the  ^^^^^^  ^^^e  t 

ballots  given  in  at  such  election  and  declare  the  results  thereof,  ind^pdl:St. 

and  the  clerks  of  such  boards  and  councils  shall  make  a  record 

thereof.     The  several  city  and  town  clerks  shall  forthwith,  after 

such  declaration,  give  certificates  of  their  election  to  the  persons 

declared  elected. 

Sec.  19.     The  board  of  canvassers  of  the  city  of  Providence 
shall  count  all  ballots  cast  at  any  election  in  said  city,  for  mayor, 


40  ELECTION  LAWS. 

Of  the  board  of   citv  treasurer,  overseer  of  the  poor,  harbor  master  and  members 

C&J!lV£LS96rS     Of 

the  city  of        Qf  fi^g  common  council  and  board  of  aldermen,  and  for  such  other 

Providence.  •  j   i_         j 

Pub.  Laws,  363,  officcrs  as  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  this  chapter  said  board 
May  u.  1896.  .^  j-gquired  by  law  to  count,  and  shall  determine  and  declare 
the  result  of  such  election.  Said  board  shall  also  count,  deter- 
mine and  declare  the  result  of  all  ballots  cast  in  said  city  for  and 
against  any  proposition  submitted  to  the  electors  of  said  city, 
other  than  propositions  submitted  to  the  people  of  the  state  at 
large. 

Sec.  20.  Said  board  shall  meet  at  the  city  hall  of  said  city 
on  the  day  following  any  such  election  or  day  of  voting  upon 
such  question  as  aforesaid,  and  shall  commence  such  count  and 
continue  the  same  on  every  secular  day  thereafter  until  said 
count  is  fully  completed.     Said  ballots  shall  be  counted  by  the 

Of  counting  the  "^  ^  . 

ballots.  members  of  said  board  in  person  and  in  open  meeting;  and  any 

candidate  for  any  office  to  be  filled  at  any  such  election,  or  any 
person   authorized   by  him   in   writing,   may  be  heard   for   or 
against  the  counting  or  rejection  of  any  ballots  cast  thereat,  and 
said  board  shall  determine  all  questions  as  to  the  validity  of 
such  ballots.     Upon  the  completion  of  said  count  said  board 
shall  record  and  certify,  over  the  signatures  of  its  members,  or 
a  quorum  thereof,  in  a  book  kept  by  them  for  such  purpose,  the 
number  of  ballots  given  in  at  such  election,  specifying  the  names 
of  the  persons,  for  what  offices,  and  the  number  of  ballots  given 
in  for  each,  and  also  the  number  of  ballots  cast  for  and  against 
any  such  proposition,  and  forthwith  shall  publicly  declare  the 
result  thereof,  and  shall  forthwith  certify  said  result  and  deter- 
mination to  the  city  clerk,  and  said  city  clerk  shall  thereupon 
issue  certificates  of  election  to  the  persons  certified  by  said  boan 
to  have  been  elected,  and  in  case  of  the  adoption  or  rejectioi 
of  any  such  proposition  shall  take  any  subsequent  action  require( 
of  him  by  law.     Whenever  it  shall  appear  from  the  certificat 
of  said  board  that  no  person  has  been  lawfully  elected  to  an; 
office,  said  city  clerk  shall  thereupon  forthwith  notify  the  mayo 
of  said  city  in  writing,  and,  as  soon  as  may  be  thereafter,  sal 


ELECTION   LAWS.  41 

mayor  shall  convene  the  board  of  aldermen,  and  said  board 
of  aldermen  shall  issue  warrants  for  another  election :  Provided, 
however,  that  a  period  of  not  less  than  seven  nor  more  than  ten 
days  shall  intervene  between  the  time  said  city  clerk  shall  be 
notified  as  aforesaid  of  such  election;  and  so  from  time  to  time 
shall  order  new  elections  until  the  election  shall  be  completed. 

Sec.  21.  All  ballots,  records,  certificates,  returns,  books,  ?he^  baUoS™  °' 
documents  and  papers,  of  every  kind  and  nature,  except  as 
provided  in  section  eight  of  this  chapter,  pertaining  to  any  such 
election  or  the  voting  upon  any  such  proposition,  shall  in  the 
city  of  Providence  be  returned  and  delivered  to  and  filed  with 
said  board  within  the  time  and  in  the  manner  provided  by 
sections  eight,  fourteen,  and  fifteen  of  this  chapter,  and  under 
the  same  penalties  as  provided  by  section  thirty-one  of  this 
chapter.  Any  member  of  said  board  who  shall  knowingly 
make  any  false  count,  return,  record,  or  certificate  of  any  kind 
relative  to  the  count  of  said  ballots,  or  the  determination  of  the 
result  of  any  such  election  or  the  voting  upon  any  such  proposi- 
tion as  aforesaid,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not  exceeding  five 
thousand  dollars  or  to  imprisonment  not  exceeding  five  years 
or  to  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

'      Sec.  22.     The  several  boards  and  councils  named  in  sections  ^^^^to^® 
eighteen  and  nineteen  shall,  at  the  counting  of  the  ballots  pro-  SntSiTo?* 
provided  for  therein,  admit  two  republicans  and  two  democrats    *  °  "* 
within  the  space  reserved  for  such  counting,  and  allow  them  to 
scrutinize  said  counting  under  such  reasonable  restrictions  as 
may  be  prescribed  by  such  boards  and  councils.     Each  of  such 
republicans  and  democrats  shall  be  authorized  in  writing,  by  the 
chairman  of  the  city  or  town  committee  of  the  political  party 
to  which  he  belongs.     The  provisions  of  this  section  shall  not 
be  construed  to  prevent  said  boards  or  councils  from  admitting 
in   their   discretion,   other  persons  within   said   reserved  space 
during  such  counting. 

Sec.  23.     (As  amended  by  Section  61/0,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)     The  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  the  city 


42  ELECTION   LAWS. 

Duties  of  of  Pawtucket  shall  count  all  ballots  delivered  to  it  under  thf 

board  of  can- 

rSstrat?on  of  provlslons  of  Sectlons  14  and  15  of  this  chapter.  Upon  com- 
to'SuSg^^  pleting  any  such  count  said  board  shall  declare  the  result  and 
SdYiuing^cer-   tlic  clerk  shall  make  a  record  thereof  in  a  book  kept  for  that 

tificates  of  .  •  i     t   i       i  ^  •  i»    •  j       1 1 

election.  purpose  in  manner  provided  by  law,  certiiymg  to  the  same  over 

liis  signature,  and  said  clerk  shall  forthwith  issue  a  certificate 
of  election  to  all  persons  declared  elected.  Whenever  it  shall 
appear  from  such  count  that  no  person  has  been  lawfully 
elected  to  any  office,  said  board  shall  in  manner  provided  by 
law  issue  a  warrant  for  another  election. 

Packages  of  Sec.  24.     No  packaffc  of  ballots,  after  havins^  been  sealed  as 

ballots  once  r  o  ^  o 

sealed  not  to  be   provided  in  scction  nine  of  t  his   chapter,   shall   thereafter  be 

opened,    except     ^  ^ 

by  whom.  opened  by  any  moderator,  warden,  or  clerk,  or  by  any  other 

person  upon  any  pretence  whatever,  except  by  the  boards  or 
councils  authorized  by  law  to  count  the  same  and  at  the  time 
provided  for  such  counting.  Any  person  who  shall  willfully 
violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  fined  not 
more  than  one  thousand  dollars  or  bo  imprisoned  not  more  than 
three  years,  or  both. 
Sfppiies  to  bi''''  ^EC.  25.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1033,  Public 
^Tec?eta^ry  of  Laws.)  The  Secretary  of  state  shall  at  the  expense  of  the 
state  procure  for  use  at  all  elective  meetings  held  therein  a 
sufficient  supply  of  suitably  strong  cord  and  twine  and  of  paper 
for  enclosing  the  ballots,  and  also  of  adhesive  labels  not  less 
than  four  inches  in  length  and  two  and  one-quarter  inches  in 
width,  for  use  in  complying  with  the  provisions  of  section  nine 
of  this  chapter.  He  shall  also  for  use  at  all  meetings  held  there- 
in for  the  election  of  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of 
the  United  States,  senators  and  representatives  in  congress, 
general  officers,  and  senators  and  representatives  in  the  general 
assembly,  or  for  voting  upon  propositions  or  questions  submitted 
to  the  electors  of  the  state,  have  printed  at  such  expense,  upon 
the  paper  for  enclosing  the  ballots,  or  upon  adhesive  labels  not 
less  than  six  inches  in  length  and  four  inches  in  width,  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  blank  forms  of  the  endorsement  provided  for  in 


irtate. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  43 

section  ten  of  this  chapter,  and  upon  suitable  paper  a  sufficient 
supply  of  blank  forms  of  the  certificates  provided  for  'in  section 
twelve  of  this  chapter,  and  shall  furnish  to  the  city  or  town  clerk 
of  each  city  and  town,  at  least  ten  days  before  the  day  for  hold- 
ing such  meetings,  an  ample  quantity  of  each  of  the  articles 
named  in  this  section  for  use  at  all  meetings  to  be  held  in  such 
city  or  town. 

Sec.  26.     The  several  city  and  town  clerks  shall  at  the  expense  csty  and  town 

"^  ^  clerks  to  fur- 

of  their  respective  cities  and  towns  procure  for  use  at  meetings  "u^^  ji^""**^" 
held  therein  for  the  election  of  city,  town,  ward,  and  district 
officers  a  sufficient  supply  of  blank  forms  of  the  endorsement 
provided  for  in  section  ten  of  this  chapter,  printed  upon  ad- 
hesive labels  not  less  than  six  inches  in  length  and  four  inches  in 
widtli,  or  upon  strong  paper  of  suitable  size  for  enclosing  the 
ballots  as  provided  in  section  nine  of  this  chapter,  and  of  the 
certificates  provided  for  in  section  twelve  of  this  chapter;  and 
shall  seasonably  furnish  at  each  voting-place  therein,  on  the 
day  of  every  election  held  thereat,  an  ample  quantity  of  each  of 
the  articles  named  in  this  section,  and  of  the  articles  provided 
for  in  section  twenty-five  of  this  chapter,  to  be  furnished  to  him 
by  the  secrtary  of  state. 

Sec.  27.     Every  clerk  upon  w^hom  is  imposed  by  this  chapter  ap%^nt"2rne 
the  duty  of  delivering  any  package  of  ballots  may  appoint  in  f^^r'^baiiote' 
writing  some  officer  of  the  city  or  town  where  he  resides  to  "''^^"' 
deliver  such  package  in  his  stead,  in  case  of  his  sickness  or 
absolute  inability  to  deliver  the  same  in  person. 

Sec.  28.     Wherever  in  this  chapter  the  word  "ballots''  or  words  "bal- 
lots "  and 

the  word  "  votes "  is  used  it  shall  be  construed  to  mean  the  "  votes "  con- 
strued. 

evidence  of  the  intent  of  the  voters  as  shown  by  the  tally-sheets 

or  records  made  upon  paper  by  any  voting-machine  used  in  the 
election  of  officers  or  in  voting  upon  any  proposition  or  question. 

Sec.  29.     The  words  "voting-district"  shall  be  construed  to  words  "vot- 
include  w^ard  voting-districts,  the  word  "  warden  "  ward-district  ^"warden,"' 

and  "  clerk  "" 

wardens,  and  the  word  "  clerk  "  ward-district  clerks,  wherever  construed, 
used  in  this  chapter,  and  the  duties  imposed  upon  wardens  and 


44 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Penalty    for 
neglect  or  re- 
fusal to  fur- 
nish certifi- 
cates of  elec- 
tion. 


Penalty  for 
neglect  to 
count,   seal  up, 
etc.,  ballots. 
16  R.  I.   42. 


Penalties  on 

moderators, 

wardens,   and 

clerks. 

16  R.   I.  42. 


clerks  by  this  chapter  are  hereby  imposed  upon  ward- district 
wardens  and  ward-district  clerks. 

Sec.  30.  Every  city  or  town  clerk  who  shall  neglect  or  refuse 
to  furnish  any  city,  town,  ward,  or  voting-district  officer-elect 
with  a  proper  certificate  of  his  election  as  soon  as  may  be  there- 
after shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifty  dollars  nor  more  than  five 
hundred  dollars,  or  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  six  months, 
either  or  both,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court  which  shall  try 
such  offender. 

Sec.  31.  Every  moderator,  warden,  or  clerk  who  shall 
neglect  to  count  -the  ballots  or  to  declare  the  result  thereof  as 
provided  in  this  chapter  or  to  seal  up  the  ballots  at  the  time  and 
in  the  manner  provided  therein,  or  who  shall  knowingly  seal  up 
only  a  part  of  the  ballots,  or  who  shall  willfully  neglect  to  en- 
close in  the  package  with  the  ballots  the  certificate  provided  for 
in  section  twelve  hereof,  or  to  make  and  sign  the  record  in  the 
book  kept  for  that  purpose,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifty 
dollars  nor  more  than  three  thousand  dollars,  or  be  imprisoned 
not  more  than  three  years,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court 
before  which  such  offender  shall  be  tried. 

Sec.  32.  Every  moderator  or  warden  who  shall  neglect  to 
take,  keep  or  deliver  the  record-book  of  any  elective  meeting  to 
the  officer  in  the  manner  or  at  the  time  provided  in  this  chapter," 
and  every  clerk  who  shall  neglect  to  make  the  endorsement  upon 
any  package  of  ballots  or  to  deliver  such  package  as  so  provided, 
and  every  officer  authorized  by  any  clerk  to  deliver  any  package 
of  ballots  in  his  stead  who  shall  neglect  to  deliver  the  same  to 
the  proper  person  or  within  the  time  so  provided,  and  every 
city  or  town  clerk  who  shall  neglect  to  provide  at  each  voting- 
place  in  the  city  or  town  of  which  he  is  clerk  an  ample  supply  of 
the'  articles  named  in  section  twenty-six  of  this  chapter,  or  of 
any  of  them,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  twenty  dollars  nor  more 
than  one  thousand  dollars,  or  be  imprisoned  not  more  than  one 
year,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  count  before  which  such 
offender  shall  be  tried. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  45 

Sec.  33.     All  provisions  of  any  public  or  special  law  in  rela-  ^^^^\  ^J^m^ 
tion   to   any   city   or  town  inconsistent  with   this   chapter   are  ^^^• 
hereby  repealed  so  far  as  they  apply  to  the  conduct  of  elections 
held  for  any  of  the  officers  or  for  voting  upon  any  proposition 
or  question  named  in  this  chapter. 


CHAPTER  11.  o,„i,„,, 

1896,  Ch.  11, 

Of  Elections  by  Secret  Ballot.  1229',  April'  26, 

1906. 

Section  1.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1034,  Public  Ballots  used  at 

state  electioM, 

Laws.)     For  all  elections  of  electors  of  president  and  vice-presi-  how  to  be  fur 
dent  of  the  United  States,  senators  and  representatives  in  the  Pub.  LaiiVB, 

1229,    sec.    1, 

congress  of  the  United  States,  general  officers  of  the  state,  and  ^prii  26.  1965. 
members  of  the  general  assembly,  the  nominations  for  such 
officers  shall  be  printed  on  one  ballot,  together  with  any  proposed 
amendement  to  the  constitution  of  the  state  or  other  question 
submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state.  The  printing  of  such 
ballots  and  the  instruction-sheets  hereinafter  provided,  and  the 
delivery  of  them  to  the  several  cities  and  towns  shall  be  paid  for 
by  the  state.  The  distribution  of  the  ballots  to  the  voters  shall 
be  paid  for  by  the  cities  and  towns  respectively. 

Sec.  2.     All  ballots  cast  in  elections  by  the  people  of  the  Ballots  for 
several  cities  (not  including  towns)  for  mayor,  other  general  city  officers,  and 
officers  and  members  of  the  school  committee,  for  members  of  questions,  how 

fximished. 

the  city  council,  and  for  ward  or  voting-district  officers  in  any 
city,  or  on  any  question  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  electors  of 
any  city,  shall  be  printed  and  distributed  at  the  expense  of  such 
city,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  3.     In  elections  by  the  people  of  the  several  towns  (not  Ballots  for  eiec 

•^  ^      ^  ^  tlons   of   town 

including  cities)  which  have  adopted,  or  shall  adopt,  the  system  J^?'^^^'^ 
of  voting  provided  by  this  chapter,  all  ballots  cast  for  officers 
who  are  elected  by  the  people  of  such  towns  respectively,  mem- 
bers of  the  school  committee,  and  voting-district  officers,  shall 


46 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


be  printed  and"  distributed  at   the  expense  of   such  towns,  as 
hereinafter  provided. 

Domination  of  Candidates  in  Convention  on  Caucus. 


Congressmen  ' 
and  state  offi- 
cers, how  to 
be  nominated 
in  caucus  or 
convention. 


City  officers, 
how  to  be  nom- 
inated  in   con- 
vention or 
caucus. 


Sec.  4  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  Any  convention  of  delegates  representing  a  political 
party  which,  at  the  election  next  preceding,  polled  at  least  two 
per  centum  of  the  entire  vote  cast  in  the  state  for  governor,  may 
for  the  state  make  one  nomination  for  each  office  mentioned  in 
section  one  of  this  chapter,  therein  to  be  filled  at  the  election, 
and  any  convention  of  delegates  or  caucus  representing  a  polit- 
ical party  which  at  the  election  next  preceding  polled  at  least 
two  per  centum  of  the  entire  vote  cast  for  governor  in  any  con- 
gressional district,  city,  town,  or  representative-district,  may 
for  such  district,  city,  or  town,  make  one  nomination  for  each 
office  mentioned  in  said  section  one,  therein  to  be  filled  at  the 
election,  by  causing  a  certificate  of  nomination  to  be  duly  filed, 
as  hereinafter  provided.  Every  such  certificate  of  nomination 
shall  state  such  facts  as  are  required  for  its  acceptance  by  this 
section  and  by  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  5.  Any  convention  of  delegates  representing  a  polit- 
ical party  which,  at  the  election  next  preceding,  polled  at  least 
two  percentum  of  the  entire  vote  cast  in  the  city  for  which  the 
nomination  is  made,  held  in  any  such  city,  and  any  caucus  of 
such  a  political  party,  held  in  any  such  city,  for  the  nomination 
of  general  city  officers,  or  school  committee,  or  in  any  ward  or 
voting-district,  in  such  city,  for  the  nomination  of  officers  to 
be  chosen  by  the  voters  of  such  ward  or  voting-district,  may  for 
the  city,  ward,  or  voting-district,  for  which  the  convention  or 
caucus  is  held,  as  the  case  may  be,  by  causing  a  certificate  of 
nomination  to  be  duly  filed,  make  one  such  nomination  for  each 
office  therein  to  be  filled  at  the  election.  Every  such  certificate 
of  nomination  shall  state  such  facts  as  are  required  for  its 
acceptance  by  this  section  and  by  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  6.     Any  convention  of  delegates  representing  a  political 


ELECTION    LAWS.  47 

party  which,  at  the  election  next  preceding,  polled  at  least  two  ^o°^'"„*^J|*e^^™;jj. 

per  centum  of  the  entire  vote  cast  in  the  town  for  which  the  jj^nuon^l)/*^"' 

nomination  is  made,  held  in  any  such  town,  and  any  caucus  of  *^*"'^"^- 

such  a  political  party,  held  in  any  such  town,  for  the  nomination 

of  the  officers  referred  to  in  section  three  of  this  chapter,  as  the 

case  may  be,  by  causing  a  certificate  of  nomination  to  be  duly 

filed,  may  make  one  such  nomination  for  each  office  therein  to 

be  filled  at  the  election.     Every  such  certificate  of  nomination 

shall  state  such  facts  as  are  required  for  its  acceptance  by  this 

section  and  by  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  7.     (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1034,  Public  words   "poii- 

^  ^  7  r  >  ^^Q^i  party" 

Laws.)        Wherever  the  words  ^^  political  party"  are  used  in  defined. 

^  ^        "^  Pub.   Laws, 

sections  four,  five,  and  six  of  this  chapter,  they  shall  be  construed  i059,  Dec  12, 
to  mean  a  political  party  which  at  the  next  preceding  election 
of  state  officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two 
per  centum  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer. 

N^OMINATION   OF    CANDIDATES   BY   INDIVIDUAL    VOTERS. 

Sec.  8.     (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1034,  Public  ^^^^^i  «ffi«^r» 

^  •'  p  r  ^  and    senator    m 

Laws.)      Xominations  of  candidates  for  any  offices  to  be  filled  J^"J!^^inSed 
by  the  voters  of  the  state  at  large,  or  of  a  congressional  district,  ora;^^  ^^^*" 
may  be  made  by  nomination-papers  signed  in  the  aggregate  for  J^es^"*con- 
each  candidate  by  not  less  than  five  hundred  qualified  voters  of  ff^ore^  ^^ 
the  state  in  the  case  of  a  state  office,  or  senator  in  congress, 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  case  of  a  representative  in 
congress. 

Sec.   9.     (As  amended  by   Section   8,   Chapter  640,   Public  Number  of 

^  "^  :»  jr  7  BigTiatures    re- 

Laws. )      Nominations  of  candidates  for  senators  in  any  city  may  ^"jjinatkm  of 
be  made  by  nomination-papers  signed  by  one  hundred  voters  of  «^"^*°™- 
such  city  qualified  to  sign  such  nomination-papers,  and  in  any 
town  by  nomination-papers  signed  by  fifty  voters  of  such  town 
qualified  to  sign  such  nomination-papers. 

Sec.  10.  (As  amended  by  Section  9,  Chapter  640,  Public  s^^a^trres""' re- 
Laws.)  Nominations  of  candidates  for  members  of  the  house  domination  of 
of  representatives  from  any  town  not  divided  into  representa-  tives. 


48 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


General  city 
officers,   by  100 
electors. 


General  town 
officers,    by   50 
electors. 


Number   of 
signatures    re- 
quired  for 
nomination    of 
ward,    repre- 
sentative,   and 
voting-district 
officers. 


How  nomina- 
tion papers 
must  be  signed, 
and    certificate 
of    qualification 
of    signers    re- 
quired. 


Special  pro- 
vision regard- 
ing  nomination 
papers  filed  on 
day  of  any  cau- 


tive-districts,  or  from  any  representative-district,  may  be  made 
by  nomination-papers  signed  by  fifty  voters  of  such  town  or 
representative-district  qualified  to  sign  such  nomination-papers. 

Sec.  11.  Nominations  of  candidates  for  any  municipal 
offices  to  be  filled  by  the  voters  of  any  city  at  large  may  be 
made  by  nomination-papers,  signed  in  the  aggregate  for  each 
candidate  by  not  less  than  one  hundred  qualified  voters  of  such 
city. 

Sec.  12.  Nominations  of  candidates  for  any  municipal 
offices  to  be  filled  by  the  voters  of  any  town  at  large  (not  in- 
cluding cities)  may  be  made  by  nomination -papers  signed  in  the 
aggregate  for  each  candidate  by  not  less  than  fifty  qualified 
voters  of  such  town. 

Sec.  13.  (As  amended  by  Section  10,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  Nominations  of  candidates  for  offices  to  be  filled  by 
the  voters  of  any  representative-district,  ward,  or  voting-district 
in  any  city  or  town  may  be  made  by  nomination-papers  signed 
in  the  aggregate  for  each  candidate  by  not  less  than  fifty  voters 
qualified  to  vote  for  each  of  such  candidates. 

Sec.  14.  (As  amended  by  Section  11,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  Each  voter  signing  a  nomination-paper  shall  add  to 
his  signature  his  place  of  residence,  and  each  voter  may  sub- 
scribe to  one  nomination  for  each  office  to  be  filled  and  no  more. 
Each  nomination-paper  required  by  law  to-  be  filed  with  the 
secretary  of  state  shall,  before  being  filed,  be  submitted  to  the 
board  of  canvassers  and  registration  in  cities  in  which  such  board 
is  or  shall  be  established,  at  least  two  days  before  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  same,  and  to  the  city  or  town  clerks  in  other  cities  and 
towns  in  which,  respectively,  the  signers  purport  to  be  qualified 
voters,  and  the  clerk  of  each  board  of  canvassers  and  registration 
and  each  city  or  town  clerk  to  whom  the  same  is  submitted  shall 
forthwith  certify  thereon  what  number  of  the  signatures  are 
names  of  voters  qualified  to  sign  such  nomination-paper  in  such 
city  or  town,  ward,  or  district:  Provided,  however,  that  when 
such  list  shall  be  submitted  to  said  board,  or  whenever  any  such 


ELECTION   LAWS.  49 

nomination-paper  shall  be  filed  with  said  boards  on  any  date 
on  which  a  caucus  of  any  political  party  is  to  be  held,  said  clerk 
shall  not  certify  as  to  the  qualification  of  sufch  signers  until 
after  said  caucus  shall  have  been  held. 

Sec.    15.     (Repealed   by    Section    12,    Chapter    640,    Public 
Laws. ) 

Certificates  of  Nomination  and  Nomination-Papers. 
Sec.  16.     Every  certificate  of  nomination  and  everv  nomina-  fo™  ot  c€r- 

*^  "  tificatea  of 

tion-paper  shall,   besides  containing  the  names  of  candidates,  JnT^ominltio 
specify  as  to  each :  ( 1 )  the  office  for  which  he  was  nominatied ;  candidatS.  *^ 
( 2 )  the  party  or  political  principle  which  he  represents,  expressed  26  r.  l  476. 
in  not  more  than  three  words:     Provided^  that  in  such  expres- 
sion the  words  "  Eepublican  "  or  "  Democrat  '^  shall  not  be  com- 
bined with  any  other  word  or  words;  and  (3)  his  place  of  resi- 
dence, with  street  and  number  thereon,  if  any.     And  in  the  case 
of  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States 
the  names  of  the  candidates  for  president  and  vice-president  may 
be  added  to  the  party  or  political  appellation. 

Sec.  17.  Every  certificate  of  nomination  shall  be  signed  by  ^^atfoM^to 
the  presiding  officer,  and  by  the  secretary  or  clerk,  of  the  caucus  St^^*^^*^* 
or  convention  by  which  the  nominations,  thereby  certified,  were 
made;  and  each  of  said  officers  shall  add  thereto  his  place  of 
residence ;  and  the  officers  signing  said  certificate  shall  swear  that 
the  statements  contained  in  the  same  are  true  to  the  best  of  their 
knowledge,  information  and  .belief,  and  a  jurat  of  said  oath  shall 
be  affixed  to  said  certificate  by  the  officer  before  whom  said  oath 
was  made. 


Certificates  of 
nominations. 


Sec.  18.     Certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination-papers 
for  officers  referred  to  in  section  one  of  this  chapter  shall  be  filed  papeS?"to  1^°'' 
at  least  twenty  days,  and  such  certificates  and  papers  for  officers  ^^^'  ^^^' 
referred  to  in  sections  two  and  three  of  this  chapter  shall  be  ^oi. '^^'  ^ 
filed  at  least  fifteen  days  previous  to  the  day  of  the  election  for 
which  the  candidates  are  nominatied,  and  may  be  filed  by  any 
person  lawfully  in  possession  of  the  same  for  that  purpose. 

4  .i 


50 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


How  and  when 
persons  nomi- 
nated may 
withdraw  as 
candidates. 


Vacancies 
oauaed  by 
death  or  with- 
drawal of  can- 
didates, how 
to  be  filled. 


Sec.  19.  (As  amended  by  Section  14,  Chapter  640,  Publi 
Laws.)  Any  person  whose  name  has  been  presented  as  a  car 
didate  for  any  office  mentioned  in  section  one  of  this  chapte 
may  cause  his  name  to  be  withdrawn  from  nomination  b 
request  in  writing  signed  by  him  and  acknowledged  before  an 
officer  qualified  to  take  acknowledgment  of  deeds  and  file 
with  the  secretary  of  state  at  least  eighteen  days  previous  to  tl: 
day  of  the  election  for  which  such  candidate  was  nominated 
and  any  person  whose  name  has  been  presented  as  a  candidal 
for  any  office  referred  to  in  sections  two  and  three  of  this  chaptt 
may  cause  his  name  to  be  withdrawn  from  nomination  h 
request  in  writing  signed  and  acknowledged  as  aforesaid  an 
filed  with  the  city  clerk  or  town  clerk  of  the  city  or  towi 
respectively,  in  which,  or  in  any  ward  or  voting-district  ( 
which,  the  election  of  candidates  for  said  last-mentioned  ofl5( 
is  to  be  held,  at  least  thirteen  days  previous  to  the  day  of  tl 
election  for  which  such  candidate  was  nominated:  Providet 
that  in  the  city  of  Pawtucket  said  withdrawal  shall  be  filed  wii 
the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration.  No  name  so  witl 
drawn  shall  be  printed  upon  the  ballots;  but  no  nominatio 
which  is  actually  published  and  posted  as  provided  in  this  cha] 
ter  shall  be  susequently  omitted  as  invalid. 

Sec.  20.  (As  amended  by  Section  13,  Chapter  640,  Publ 
Laws.)  Whenever  any  candidate  shall  have  withdrawn  ; 
herein  provided,  or  whenever  any  candidate,  duly  nominate 
shall  die,  the  vacancy  may  be  supplied  by  the  political  part 
or  other  persons,  making  the  nomination,  by  the  nomination  * 
another  candidate  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  provided;  o 
if  there  is  not  sufficient  time,  in  such  manner  as  such  pan 
may  have  before  provided  by  a  vote  of  the  convention  ( 
caucus  thereof;  or,  if  there  has  been  no  such  vote,  in  such  mai 
ner  as  the  executive  committee  or  other  general  committ 
representing  such  party  for  the  state,  congressional  distric 
city,   or  town,   representative-district,   ward   or   voting-distric 


ELECTION    LAWS.  51 

as  the  case  may  be,  shall  provide,  said  nomination  to  be  filed  in 
manner  hereinbefore  provided. 

Sec.  21.  (As  amended  by  Section  15,  Chapter  640,  Public  ^^^'^^i^^. 
Laws.)  Certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination-papers,  and  to^'br^flieX^**" 
requests  for  withdrawal  of  the  name  of  any  candidate,  and 
nominations  in  substitution  of  candidates  so  withdrawing,  relat- 
ing to  any  of  the  offices  mentioned  in  section  one  of  this  chapter, 
shall  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state,  or  in  his  office  with 
some  person  there  present  and  officially  representing  him;  and 
certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination-papers,  and  requests 
for  withdrawal  of  the  name  of  any  candidate,  and  nominations  in 
substitution  of  candidates  so  withdrawing,  relating  to  any  of  the 
offices  referred  to  in  sections  two  and  three  of  this  chapter,  shall 
be  filed  with  the  city  clerk  or  town  clerk  of  the  city  or  town 
respectively,  in  which,  or  in  any  ward  or  voting-district  of  which, 
the  election  of  candidates  for  said  last-mentioned  offices  is  to 
be  held,  or  shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  such  city  clerk  or  town 
clerk  with  some  person  there  present  and  officially  representing 
him :  Provided,  that  in  the  city  of  Pawtucket  such  certificates, 
nomination-papers,  withdrawals,  and  nominations  shall  be  filed 
with  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration,  or  in  their  office 
with  some  person  there  present  and  officially  representing  them. 

Sec.   22.     (As   amended  by   Section  16,   Chapter   640,   and  Nominationa 
Section  4,   Chapter  1034,   Public  Laws.)        All  certificates  of  to^'in^e^ioT'' 
nomination  and  nomination-papers,  and  all  requests  for  with-  S^ariS^o 
drawal  of  the  name  of  any  candidate,  and  all  nominations  in  ^^^^' 
substitution  of  candidates  so  withdrawing,  when  filed,  shall  be 
open,  under  proper  regulations,  to  public  inspection,  and  the 
secretary  of  state,  city  clerks  and  town  clerks,  and  boards  of 
canvassers  and  registration,  respectively,  shall  preserve  the  same 
in  their  respective  offices  not  less  than  two  years. 

Sec.  23.     In  case  any  candidate  shall  die  before  the  election,  of  voting  in 
but  too  late  for  a  new  nomination  to  be  printed  on  the  ballots,  date  dying  too 
the  voters  may  vote  for  any  other  person  for  the  same  office  by  nomination. 


52  .         ELECTION    LAWS. 

substituting  the  name  of  such  other  person  in  the  blank  spac 
on  said  ticket  and  placing  a  cross  at  the  right  of  said  name. 

^ri^ared^'^a^d  ^^^'  ^^-     (^^  amended  by  Section  5,  Chapter  1034,  Publi 

what  to  con-       Laws.)     Evcrj   ballot   printted    in    accordance   with    the    pre 
Pub.  Laws,         visions  of  this  chapter  shall  contain  the  names  of  all  candidate 

1229,  sec.  2.  . 

April  26,  1905.     whosc  nominations  for  any  offices  specified  in  the  ballot  ha\ 

16  R.  I.  766.  -^  ^ 

been  duly  made  and  not  withdrawn  in  accordance  herewith,  an 
shall  contain  no  other  names  except  the  surnames  of  candidate 
for  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States.  Th 
names  of  all  such  candidates  and  the  offices  for  which  they  ai 
nominated  shall  be  arranged  on  the  ballot  in  perpendicub 
columns,  one  column  being  assigned  to  each  political  part 
making  nominations  by  convention,  caucus,  or  nominatioi 
papers  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter :  *  Pn 
vided,  however,  that  in  case  only  a  partial  list  of  candidates 
nominated  by  any  political  party  other  than  the  republican  ( 
democratic  party,  two  or  more  such  lists  may  be  arrange 
whenever  practicable  in  the  same  column. 

The  first  column  on  the  left-hand  side  of  every  ballot  printe 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  contai 
only  the  names  of  the  nominees  of  the  republican  party;  tl 
second  column  only  those  of  the  democratic  party;  and  tl 
order  of  such  other  nominations  as  may  be  made  shall  be  dete 
mined  by  the  official  whose  duty  it  is  to  prepare  the  ballot 
At  the  top  of  each  column  or  list,  immediately  above  the  tit 
of  the  first  office  to  be  voted  for,  there  shall  be  printed  in  capit; 
letters  not  less  than  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  height  the  name  ( 
the  political  party  by  which  the  candidates  in  such  column  we: 
nominated.  In  caes  a  nomination  is  made  by  nominatioi 
papers,  the  words  "  nom.  papers  '^  shall  be  added  to  the  pari 
name. 

Above  such  party  name  shall  be  printed  a  circle  not  less  tha 
seven-eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  such  circle  shall  \ 
surrounded  by  the  following  words  printed  in  plain  letteri 
"For  a  straight  ticket  make  a  cross   (X)    within  the  circle 


ELECTIOX    LAWS. 

bove  each  circle  shall  be  printed  an  emblem  or  device  desig- 
iting  or  distinguishing  the  political  party  whose  nominations 
ive  been  assigned  to  that  column.  Such  emblem  or  device  of 
le  republican  party  shall  be  the  representation  of  an  eagle^  and 
ich  emblem  or  device  of  the  democratic  party  shall  be  the 
^presentation  of  a  star.  The  emblem  or  device  designating  or 
Lstinguishing  any  other  political  party  whose  nominations  may 
ow,  or  from  time  to  time,  be  entitled  to  be  placed  upon  the 
allot  shall  be  selected  by  the  secretary  of  state  and  be  printed 
pon  the  ballot  above  the  column  assigned  to  the  nominations  of 
ich  party:  Provided,  however,  that  the  emblem  or  device  shall 
2  entirely  different  for  each  political  party,  and  may  be  any 
ppropriate  symbol ;  but  neither  the  coat  of  arms  or  seal  of  any 
;ate  or  of  the  United  States,  the  national  flag,  any  religious 
mblem  or  symbol,  the  seal  of  any  society,  the  portrait  of  any 
erson,  or  the  representation  of  a  coin  or  of  the  currency  of  the 
rnited  States,  shall  be  chosen  as  a  distinguishing  emblem. 
Hienever  any  emblem  or  device  has  been  selected  by  the  secre- 
iry  of  state,  and  used  upon  official  ballots  for  any  political 
arty,  it  shall  not  thereafter  be  so  used  for  any  other  political 
arty. 

In  each  column  the  names  of  the  candidates,  their  residence, 
)gether  with  the  street  and  number  if  any,  shall  be  placed 
nmediately  below  the  title  of  the  office  for  which  they  are 
ominated,  and  at  the  right  of  the  name  of  each  candidate  and 
1  the  same  line  there  shall  be  a  square  so  printed  as  to  give 
le  voter  an  opportunity  to  designate  by  a  cross  (X)  therein  his 
loice  of  candidates ;  except  that  in  case  of  candidates  for  electors 
:  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States  one  square 
lall  suffice  for  each  group  of  such  candidates.  Above  the  last 
'  right-hand  column  of  each  ballot  there  shall  be  no  circle  or 
ivice,  but  there  shall  be  printed  in  such  column  in  the  regular 
•der  the  title  of  each  office  to  be  voted  for ;  as  "  For  Governor,'^ 
For  Senator,''  and  the  like^  and  beneath  each  title  there  shall 


53 


54  ELECTION   LAWS. 

be  left  as  many  blank  lines  as  there  are  persons  to  be  elected 
such  office. 

On  ballots  provided  for  elections  mentioned  in  section  one 
this  chapter  the  various  offices  to  be  voted  for  shall  be  arrang 
in  each  column  in  the  following  order:  First,  electors  of  prei 
dent  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States ;  second,  senator 
the  congress  of  the  United  States;  third,  representative  in  t 
congress  of  the  United  States ;  fourth,  governor ;  fifth,  lieutenar 
governor;  sixth,  secretary  of  state;  seventh,  attorney-genera 
eighth,  general  treasurer ;  ninth,  senator  in  the  general  assembl 
tenth,  representative  or  representatives  in  the  general  assembl 
On  ballots  provided  for  elections  mentioned  in  sections  two  ai 
three  of  this  chapter  the  offices  to  be  voted  for  shall  be  arrange 
in  each  column  by  the  city  or  town  clerk. 

Whenever  a  constitutional  amendment  or  other  question 
submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  electors  of  the  state,  such  amen 
ment  or  question  shall,  if  candidates  for  office -are  to  be  voted  f 
at  the  same  time,  be  printed  upon  the  ballot  after  or  benea 
the  lists  of  candidates,  and  the  same  arrangement  shall 
followed  on  ballots  used  in  elections  for  officers  named  in  se 
tions  two  and  three  of  this  chapter,  whenever  a  question  is  su 
mitted  to  the  electors  of  a  city  or  town  at  such  elections.  T' 
ballots  shall  be  so  printed  as  to  give  to  each  voter  an  opportuni 
to  designate  by  a  cross-mark  (X)  in  a  square  his  answer  to  tl 
question  submitted. 

All  ballots  provided  by  the  secretary  of  state  under  the  pr 
visions  of  this  chapter  shall  he  printed  on  plain  white  paper  of 
quality  approved  by  him,  and  there  shall  be  no  mark  or  impre 
sion  to  distinguish  one  ballot  from  another.  The  names  of  e 
candidates  shall  be  printed  thereon  in  uniform  type. 

fofdS'and^n-        ^^c.  25.     Before  distribution  the  ballots  shall  be  folded 

dorsed,  how.       ^jjg^^  ^^  printing  shall  appear  except  the  endorsement,  whi( 

shall  be  printed  on  the  back  and  outside,  official  ballot  fo 

followed  by  the  designation  of  the  polling-place  for  which  tJ 

ballot  is  prepared,  the  date  of  the  election,  and  a  fac-simile  . 


ELECTION    LAWS.  55, 

Hfllll 

the  signature  of  the  secretary  of  state,  city  clerk  or  town  clerk, 
respectively,  who  has  caused  the  ballots  to  be  so  printed  and 
folded. 

Sec.  26.     All  nominations  for  offices  to  be  voted  for  in  ac-  uons^to^^be'on 
cordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  at  any  election  iJ^  to^be'used' 
mentioned  in  sections  two  and  three  thereof,  by  any  one  elector,  by^roperty 
shall  be  printed  on  one  ballot  which  shall  have  printed  on  the  tinguished. 
back  and  outside  the  words  city  officers^  or  town  officers, 
as  the  case  may  be:    Provided,  that  special  ballots,  containing 
the  nominations  for  members  of  the  city  council,  in  addition  to 
the  nominations  for  offices  which  can  be  voted  for  by  voters 
qualified  to  vote  by  registry  at  any  election  mentioned  in  sec- 
tion two  of  this  chapter,  shall  be  printed  for  the  use  of  such 
electors  only  as  are  qualified  to  vote  for  members  of  the  city 
council.     Said  special  ballots  shall  be  printed  on  paper  of  a 
different   color   from   that   of   the   other   official   ballot   or   the 
specimen-ballots,  and  shall  have  printed  on  the  back  and  out- 
side the  additional  word  council,  and  shall  be  given  by  the 
supervisors  to  such  electors  only  as  are  qualified  to  vote  for 
members  of  the  city  council. 

Sec.  27.     All  ballots  when  printed  shall  be  folded  as  here-  Ballots  to  be 

^  put  up  in  pack- 

inbefore  provided  and  put  up  in  packages  of  one  hundred  each.  J|^  ^ind^c- 
A  record  of  the  number  of  ballots  printed  and  furnished  to  each 
polling  place  shall  be  kept  and  preserved  by  the  secretary  of 
state,  or  the  officer  furnishing  the  same. 

Sec.  2^.     There  shall  be  provided  for  each  voting-place  at  Baiiota,  ntoo* 
which  an  election  is  to  be  held  not  less  than  sixty  ballots  for  furnished, 
every  fifty  and  every  fraction  of  fifty  qualified  voters  therein ;  1229^  Hec!i, 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  city  or  town  clerk  in  each  city  or 
town  in  which  an  election  for  any  of  the  officers  mentioned  in 
the  first  section  of  this  chapter  is  to  be  held  to  certify  to  the 
secretary  of  state,  fourteen  days  previous  to  any  such  election, 
the  number,  as  near  as  possible,  of  voters  then  qualified  to  vote  who  is  to  pro- 

.  -^  ^  vide  the  bal- 

at  each  voting-place  of  such  city  or  town.     It  shall  be  the  duty  !<>*«. 
of  the  secretary  of  state  to  provide  said  ballots  for  any  election 


56 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Instruction 
sheets  and 
specimen  bal- 
lots, to  be  pre- 
pared for  the 
guidance  of 
voters. 


List  of  candi- 
dates in  fonn 
of  ballot  to  be 
furnished  by 
secretary  of 
state  to  city 
and  town 
clerks,  and  in 
Pawtucket 
board  of  can- 
vassers and 
registration. 


mentioned  in  section  one  of  this  chapter ;  and  it  shall  be  the  dut^ 
of  the  city  clerk  and  town  clerk  of  the  several  cities  and  towns  t( 
provide  said  ballots  for  any  election  mentioned  in  section  tw( 
and  section  three  of  this  chapter,  respectively. 

Information  to  Voters. 

Sec.  29.  For  any  election  mentioned  in  section  one  of  thii 
chapter,  the  secretary  of  state,  and  for  any  election  mentionec 
in  section  two  and  section  three  of  this  chapter,  respectively 
the  respective  city  clerk  and  town  clerk  of  the  several  citiei 
and  towns,  shall  prepare  full  instructions  for  the  guidance  o: 
voters  at  such  elections,  as  to  obtaining  ballots,  as  to  the  mannei 
of  marking  them,  and  the  method  of  gaining  assistance,  and  as 
to  obtaining  new  ballots  in  place  of  those  accidentally  spoiled 
and  he  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  printed  in  large,  clear  type 
on  separate  sheets,  to  be  called  instruction-sheets;  he  shal 
also  cause  to  be  printed  in  the  same  manner,  sections  forty- 
eight,  forty-nine,  fifty,  and  fifty-one  of  this  chapter,  which  h( 
shall  furnish  with  the  ballots  for  use  in  each  such  election.  He 
shall  also  cause  to  be  printed  on  paper  of  a  different  color  f roix 
that  of  the  official  ballots,  and  without  the  fac-simile  endorse- 
ments, ten  or  more  copies  of  the  form  of  the  ballot  provided 
for  each  voting-place  at  each  election  therein,  which  shall  be 
called  specimen-ballots  and  shall  be  furnished  with  the  otliei 
ballots  provided  for  such  voting-place. 

Sec.  30.  (As  amended  by  Section  17,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  The  secretary  of  state  shall,  four  days  at  least  pre- 
vious to  the  day  of  any  election  of  national  or  state  officers 
transmit  to  the  city  and  town  clerks  in  each  city  and  to^vn  Id 
which  such  election  is  to  be  held,  printed  lists  containing  the 
names,  residences,  and  party  or  political  appellations,  of  all 
candidates  nominated  as  herein  provided  for  such  election,  and 
to  be  voted  for  at  each  polling-place  in  each  such  city  and  town, 
respectively,  substantially  in  the  form  of  the  ballot  to  be  so  used 
therein;  and  in  case  of  any  election  of  city,  town,  ward,   oi 


ELECTION    LAWS.  57 

voting-district  officers,  the  city  clerk  or  town  clerk  shall,  four 
days  at  least  previous  to  the  day  of  such  election,  prepare 
printed  lists  containing  the  names,  residences,  and  party  or 
political  appellations,  of  all  candidates  nominated  as  herein 
provided  for  such  elections,  and  to  be  voted  for  at  each  polling- 
place  in  such  city,  town,  representative-district,  ward,  or 
voting-district,  as  the  case  may  be,  substantially  in  the  form 
of  the  ballot  to  be  used  therein.  And  the  city  or  town  clerk 
shall,  immediately  after  the  reception  or  preparation,  respect- 
ively, of  the  lists  mentioned  in  this  section,  cause  the  list  for 
each  city,  town,  representative-district  not  divided  into  voting- 
districts,  ward,  or  voting-district,  as  the  case  may  be,  for  such 
election,  to  be  conspicuously  posted  in  not  less  than  five  public 
places  in  the  towns  not  divided  into  representative-districts, 
and  in  not  less  than  three  public  places  in  representative-dis- 
tricts not  divided  into  voting-districts,  and  in  each  ward  and 
voting-district:  Provided,  that  in  the  city  of  Pawtucket  such 
printed  lists  shall  be  transmitted  to  and  caused  to  be  posted  by, 
the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration. 

Delivery  of  Ballots  by  Secretary  of  State. 

Sec.     31.     (As  amended  by  Section  6,  Chapter  1034,  Public  Bai^ts.^d^^ 
Laws.)        The   secretary   of   state   shall   send   the  ballots   pro-  |J2f"^'°' 
vided  bv   him   for   any   election,   together  with   the   specimen-  Pub.  Laws, 

.  ,  -Til-  1  •  -11      1229,  sec.  4, 

ballots  and  instruction-sheets  printed  by  him  as  herein  provided,  April  26.  idor. 

to  the  several  city  and  town  clerks,  so  as  to  be  received  by  them 

forty-eight  hours  at  least  previous  to  the  day  of  election.     The 

same  shall  be  sent  in  a  sealed  package,  with  marks  on  the  outside 

clearly  designating  the  polling-place  for  which  the  package  is 

intended  and  the  number  of  ballots  enclosed ;  and  the  respective 

city  and  town  clerks  shall,  on  delivery  to  them  of  such  package, 

return   receipt  therefor  to  the  secretary.     The  secretary  shall 

keep  a  record  of  the  time  when,  and  the  manner  in  which,  the 

package  is  sent,  and  shall  preserve  for  a  period  of  two  years 

the  receipt  of  the  city  and  town  clerks. 


58 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Ballots,  de- 
livery of,  by- 
city  and  town 
clerks. 

Pub.  Laws, 
1229,   sec.   5, 
April  26,  1905. 


How  in  city  of 
Pawtucket. 


Of  loss,  theft, 
or  destruction 
of  ballots. 


Sec.  32.  The  city  clerk  and  town  clerk  of  the  respective 
cities  and  towns  shall  send  to  the  warden  or  moderator  of  each 
voting-place,  before  the  opening  of  the  polls  on  the  day  of  elec- 
tion, the  ballots  so  prepared,  sealed,  and  marked  for  such 
voting-place,  by  the  secretary  of  state  for  any  election  men- 
tioned in  section  one  of  this  chapter,  or  prepared,  sealed  and 
marked  for  such  voting-place  by  himself  as  such  clerk  in  iike 
manner  for  any  election  mentioned  in  section  two  and  section 
three  of  this  chapter,  respectively,  and  a  receipt  of  such  delivery 
shall  be  returned  to  him  from  the  warden  or  moderator  present, 
which  receipt,  with  a  record  of  the  number  of  ballots  sent,  shall 
be  kept  in  tTie  clerk's  office.  At  the  opening  of  the  polls  in  each 
voting-place  the  seals  of  the  package  shall  be  publicly  broken, 
and  the  package  shall  be  opened  by  the  warden  or  moderator, 
and  the  ballots  shall  be  delivered  to  the  supervisors  of  election 
provided  by  law.  The  instruction-sheets  shall  be  immediately 
posted  at  or  in  each  voting-shelf  or  compartment  provided  in 
accordance  with  this  chapter  for  the  marking  of  ballots,  and  not 
less  than  three  such  sheets  and  not  less  than  five  specimen- 
ballots  shall  be  immediately  posted  in  or  about  the  polling-room, 
outside  the  guard-rails. 

Sec.  33.  In  the  city  of  Pawtucket  the  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration  shall  furnish  the  ballots  otherwise  required  by 
law  to  be  furnished  by  the  city  clerk,  as  provided  by  sections 
thirty-five  to  forty-five  of  chapter  eight. 

Sec.  34.  In  case  the  ballots  to  be  furnished  to  any  city  or 
town  or  voting  place  therein,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter,  shall  fail  for  any  reason  to  be  duly  delivered,  or 
in  case,  after  delivery,  they  shall  be  destroyed  or  stolen  or  lost, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  such  city  or  town  to  procure 
and  deliver  to  the  warden  or  moderator  requiring  the  same,  other 
ballots  substantially  in  the  form  of  the  ballots  so  wanting;  and 
upon  receipt  of  such  other  ballots  from  him,  accompanied  by  a. 
statement  under  oath  that  the  same  have  been  so  prepared  and 
furnished  by  him,  and  that  the  original  ballots  have  so  failed  to 


ELECTION    LAWS.  59 

be  received  or  have  been  so  destroyed  or  stolen  or  lost,  the  warden 
or  moderator  shall  cause  the  ballots  so  substituted  to  be  used  in 
lieu  of  the  ballots  wanting,  as  above. 

Supervisors  of  Election. 

Sec.  35.  (As  amended  by  Section  18,  Chapter  640,  Public  erectio?^to  bl 
Laws. )  At  least  ten  days  before  any  election  as  aforesaid  the  S^^^*^  cL- 
boards  of  canvassers  in  all  cities  and  towns  shall  appoint  four  teTdays^before*^ 
and  may  appoint  six  supervisors  of  election  for  each  polling- 
place  in  each  town,  representative-district,  ward,  or  voting- 
district,  wherein  an  election  is  to  be  held  for  their  respective 
cities,  towns,  and  representative-districts,  who  shall  be  repub- 
licans and  democrats  in  equal  numbers,  to  be  selected  from  a 
list  of  not  less  than  six  electors  presented  to  said  board  of  can- 
vassers, respectively,  by  the  city  or  town  committee  of  the  re- 
publican and  democratic  parties,  respectively,  the  republican 
supervisors  to  be  selected  from  the  republican  list  and  the 
democratic  supervisors  from  the  democratic  list,  or,  in  case  any 
such  committee  shall  fail  to  submit  such  list  within  the  required 
time,  they  shall  select  such  supervisors  from  the  electors  of  the 
same  political  party  as  the  committee  so  failing  to  submit  such 
list.  Such  supervisors  shall  be  qualified  electors  in  the  town, 
representative-district,  or  voting-district  in  which  they  are 
appointed  to  serve  and  shall  severally  be  able  to  read  the  con- 
stitution of  the  state  in  the  English  language  and  to  write  their 
names.  Every  person  appointed  a  supervisor  of  election  shall, 
within  forty-eight  hours  thereafter,  be  notified  in  writing  by  the 
clerk  of  the  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration,  or  the  city 
or  town  clerk,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  such  appointment ;  and  the 
person  so  appointed  shall,  within  ninety-six  hours  after  his 
appointment,  notify  in  writing  such  clerk  of  his  acceptance  or 
declination  of  the  appointment,  and  any  vacancy  occurring  Jmo^^Sper- 
among  said  supervisors  of  election,  whether  by  declination  or  flS 
refusal  to  serve  or  by  failure  to  notify  such  clerk  as  aforesaid, 
or  by  failure  from  any  cause  to  appear  at  or  to  remain  during  the 


60 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Supervisors  to 
have  charge  of 
ballots  and  of 
duplicate  list  of 
voters  in  poll- 
ing place. 


General  duties 
of  supervisors. 


time  when  they  are  required  to  perform  their  duties^  shall,  in 
cities  wherein  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  are  estab- 
lished, be  immediately  filled  by  such  boards,  respectively,  or  by 
the  presiding  officer  thereof,  if  said  board  shall  not  be  in  session, 
and  in  other  cities  by  the  mayor  of  the  city,  and  in  towns  by  the 
presidents  of  the  town  councils,  respectively,  from  the  lists 
before  mentioned,  by  the  substitution  of  a  person  of  the  same 
political  party  as  was  the  supervisor  first  appointed.  Each  of 
said  supervisors  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  before  entering  upon  the  performance  of  the  same. 

Sec.  36.  (As  amended  by  Section  19,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  The  supervisors  appointed  in  each  town,  representative- 
district,  ward,  or  voting-district,  shall  have  charge  of  the  ballots 
therein  received  as  hereinbefore  provided,  and  shall  receipt  for 
the  same  to  the  moderator  or  warden,  respectively,  and  shall 
furnish  them  to  the  voters  in  the  manner  hereinafter  set  forth. 
A  duplicate  list  of  the  qualified  voters  in  each  town,  representa- 
tive-district or  voting-district  shall  be  prepared  for  the  use  of 
the  supervisors,  and  all  the  provisions  of  law  relating  to  the 
preparation  and  furnishing  of  said  voting-lists  shall  apply  to  the 
duplicate  lists.  Two  of  said  supervisors,  one  a  democrat  and  the 
other  a  republican,  shall  be  detailed  by  the  moderator  to  act  as 
ballot  clerks.  The  two  supervisors,  detailed  as  above,  shall  have 
immediate  charge  of  the  duplicate  list  and  the  ballots,  and  shall 
furnish  them  to  the  voters  in  the  manner  hereinafter  set  forth. 

Sec.  37.  (As  amended  by  Section  20,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  supervisors  of  election  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  opening  and  the  closing  of  the  polls  at  said  election  at 
the  polling-place  in  the  town,  representative-district,  or  voting 
district  for  which  they  shall  be  respectively  appointed,  and  dur- 
ing the  time  the  same  shall  be  kept  open,  and  they  shall  person- 
ally supervise  the  opening  of  the  ballot-boxes  and  the  sorting, 
counting,  certifying,  sealing  up,  and  returning  of  the  ballots 
cast  in  said  town,  representative-district,  ward,  or  voting-dis- 
trict; and  they  shall  make  returns  by  joint  or  separate  report, 


ELECTION   LAWS.  61 

in  national,  state  and  city  elections  to  the  returning-board  or 
boards  to  whom  said  ballots  are  by  law  required  to  be  returned 
and  in  town  elections  to  the  town  councils,  setting  forth  that 
they  have  performed  the  several  duties  herein  required  of  them, 
and  may  make  a  statement  of  such  other  facts  relating  to  the 
premises  as  they  may  deem  proper  to  bring  to  the  attention  of 
said  returning-board  and  town  council,  respectively.  At  the 
close  of  the  polls  at  every  election,  the  ballot-boxes  used  therein 
shall  be  opened  and  the  ballots  therein  contained  shall  be  sorted, 
counted,  sealed  up,  and  returned  by  the  moderators  and  clerks, 
under  the  personal  supervision  and  scrutiny  of  said  supervisors 
of  election.  But  nothing  in  this  section  contained  shall  be  so 
construed  as  to  relieve  the  moderators  or  clerks  of  town,  repre- 
sentative-districts, or  voting-districts  from  any  of  the  duties  or 
liabilities  by  law  required  or  imposed  upon  them  as  such  officers. 

Sec.  38.  (As  amended  by  Section  21,  Chapter  640,  Public  o?S.pe"rS£«. 
Laws.)  The  supervisors  of  election  in  the  city  of  Providence 
shall  severally  receive  from  said  city  ten  dollars  for  every  elec- 
tion, and,  in  all  other  cities  and  towns,  shall  receive  such  com- 
pensation for  their  services  as  may  be,  from  time  to  time,  fixed 
by  the  board  of  aldermen,  the  town  council,  or  the  city  council 
of  the  city  of  Cranston,  respectively. 

Sec.   39.     Whenever  any   of   the   elections   provided  for   by  ^u'J^rvfgoJ^  to 
sections  two  or  three  of  this  chapter  shall  occur  on  the  same  day  tSn^on^s^ame 
as  an  election  for  national  or  state  officers,  in  any  city  or  town,  ^^^' 
the  supervisors  appointed  hereunder  shall  be  the  supervisors  for 
all  of  such  elections. 

Sec.  40.'    (As  amended  by  Section  22,  Chapter  640,  Public  ^^"^"Sd^te 
Laws.)     Xo  candidate  for  any  office  to  be  filled  at  any  election  ^^^^f^^" 
sfiall  be  appointed  at  such  election  as  a  supervisor  under  the  *^^°' 
provisions  of  this  chapter. 

Voting-Shelves  or  Compartments. 
Sec.  41.     The  city  and  town  councils  in  each  city  and  town  voting-piaces 

•^  *^  to   be  equipped 

shall  cause  each   voting-place  therein  to  be   suitably  provided  j^"^^^*  ™*"* 


^2  ELECTION   LAWS. 

» 

with  a  sufficient  number  of  voting-shelves  or  compartments, 
not  less  than  one  for  each  one  hundred  voters  and  in  no  case 
less  than  three,  at  or  in  which  voters  may  conveniently  mark 
their  ballots,  so  that  in  the  marking  thereof  they  may  be 
screened  from  the  observation  of  others;  and  a  guard-rail  with 
only  one  place  for  entrance  and  another  pkce  for  exit,  shall  be 
so  constructed  and  placed  that  only  such  persons  as  are  inside 
said  rail  can  approach  within  ten  feet  of  the  ballot-boxes,  and  of 
such  voting-shelves  or  compartments.  The  arrangements  shall 
be  such  that  neither  the  ballot-boxes  nor  the  voting-shelves  or 
compartments  shall  be  hidden  from  view  of  those  just  outside 
the  said  guard-rail.  Xo  person  other  than  the  warden  or 
moderator,  as  the  case  may  be,  clerks,  supervisors,  and  voters 
admitted  as  hereinafter  provided,  shall  be  permitted  within  said 
rail  except  by  authority  of  the  said  warden  or  moderator  for 
the  purpose  of  keeping  order  and  enforcing  the  law.  Each 
voting-shelf  or  compartment  shall  be  kept  provided,  by  the  city, 
town,  ward,  and  district  clerks,  with  proper  pencils  for  marking 
the  ballots,  which  pencils  shall  be  by  the  supervisors  kept  in  con- 
dition for  use;  but  all  pencils  furnished  for  said  purpose  in  any 
election  shall,  in  each  voting-district,  be  such  as  will  mark  a 
uniform  color,  and  in  marking  his  ballot  no  voter  shall  use  a 
pencil  marking  a  different  color. 

Manner  of  Voting. 
Ballot  is  to  be       Sec.  42.     Any  person  desiring  to  vote  shall  give  his  name, 

obtained    from  /.  • 

supervisor.  and,  if  requested  so  to  do,  his  residence,  to  one  of  the  supervisors, 

who  shall  thereupon  announce  the  same  in  a  loud  and  distinct 
tone  of  voice,  clear  and  audible,  and  if  such  name  is  found  upon 
the  voting-list  the  supervisor  in  charge  of  the  voting-list  shall 
repeat  the  said  name  in  the  same  manner,  and  the  voter  shall 
be  allowed  to  enter  the  space  enclosed  by  the  guard-rail  as  above 
provided.  The  supervisor  shall  give  him  one,  and  only  one, 
ballot  of  each  kind  that  he  is  entitled  to  vote,  and  his  name 
shall  be  immediately  checked  on  the  supervisor's  list.     Besides 


ELECTION   LAWS.  63 

the  election-officers,  not  more  than  four  voters  in  excess  of  the 
number  of  voting-shelves  or  compartments  provided  shall  be 
allowed  in  said  enclosed  space  at  one  time.  No  supervisor  shall 
put  any  mark  upon  any  ballot,  except  as  provided  in  section 
forty-five  of  this  chapter.  No  supervisor,  except  as  provided  in 
section  forty-five  of  this  chapter,  and  no  other  person,  when 
within  said  enclosed  space,  shall  witness,  or  attempt  to  witness, 
the  marking  by  any  voter  of  his  ballot. 

Sec.  43.     On  receipt  of  his  ballot  from  the  proper  election-  bSioT^by^  vot- 
officer,  the  voter  shall  forthwith,  and  without  leaving  the  en-  l\'  ^^rkTnT""^ 
■closed  space,  retire  alone  to  one  of  the  voting-shelves  or  com-  p^^'La^ 
partments  so  provided,  and  shall  prepare  his  ballot  as  follows:  a^S^'ioos. 
If  he  desires  to  vote  for  all  the  candidates  of  one  political  party  is  r.  i.  822! 
he  shall  place  a  cross  (X)  within  the  circle  above  the  name  or 
designation  of  that  party.     In  case  he  desires  to  vote  for  a  can- 
didate whose  name  is  not  printed  under  the  circle  in  which  he 
has  marked,  he  shall  cancel  the  name  of  the  candidate,  in  such 
column  for  whom  he  refuses  to  vote,  by  drawing  a  line  through 
such  name,  and  shall  vote  for  the  candidate  of  his  choice  by  mark- 
ing a  cross  ( X )  in  the  square  opposite  the  name  of  the  candidate 
of  his  choice,  or  by  writing  in  the  right-hand  column  prepared 
for  that  purpose,  under  the  proper  title  of  the  office,  the  name  of 
the  person  for  whom  he  desires  to  vote.     In  such  case  the  vote 
shall  be  counted  for  the  candidate  against  whose  name  a  cross 
has  been  so  marked,  or  whose  name  has  been  so  inserted  in  the 
right-hand  column,  and  such  ballot  shall  not  be  counted  for  the 
candidate  for  the  same  office  whose  name  is  cancelled.     When  a 
voter  has  placed  a  cross  (X)  in  any  one  circle,  and  has  not  made 
any  mark  in  any  other  circle,  such  cross  (X)  shall  be  counted 
as  a  vote  for  each  of  the  candidates  in  the  column  above  which  it 
is  placed,  except  for  those  candidates  whose  names  have  been 
cancelled. 

A  cross  in  the  square  opposite  the  names  of  candidates '  for 
electors  of  president  and  vice-president  shall  be  counted  as  a 
vote  for  each.     The  voter  may  omit  to  mark  in  any  circle,  and 


64  ELECTION   LAWS. 

may  vote  for  the  candidates  of  liis  choice  by  making  a  cross  (X) 
in  the  square  opposite  their  names,  or  he  may  insert  the  names 
f'f  persons  for  whom  he  desires  to  vote,  in  the  blank  or  right- 
liand  column,  under  the  proper  title  of  office,  and  such  votes 
?hall  be  counted.  If  a  voter  desires  to  vote  upon  a  question 
submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  electors  of  the  state  or  of  any  city 
or  town,  he  shall  mark  in  the  appropriate  square  a  cross  (X) 
against  the  answer  which  he  desires  to  give  in  addition  to  the 
cross  made  in  any  circle  or  square  at  the  right  of  any  candidate's 
name.  Where  a  voter  makes  a  cross  (X)  within  the  circle  at  the 
top  of  any  column  and  also  cancels  a  name  in  the  column  under 
such  marked  circle,  but  does  not  mark  a  cross  (X)  within  the 
voting-square  at  the  right  of  any  name  of  a  candidate  for  the 
same  office  in  any  other  column,  and  fails  to  write  in  a  name  in 
the  right-hand  column  in  the  space  provided  for  a  name  to  be 
written  in  for  such  office,  said  ballot  shall  be  considered  blank 
for  such  office. 

Before  leaving  the  voting-shelf  or  compartment,  the  voter  shall 
fold  his  ballot,  without  displaying  the  marks  thereon,  in  the  same 
way  it  was  folded  when  received  by  him,  and  he  shall  keep  the 
same  so  folded  until  he  has  voted.  He  shall  vote  in  the  manner 
provided  by  law  before  leaving  the  enclosed  space,  and  shall 
deposit  in  the  ballot-box  his  ballot  with  the  official  endorse- 
ment so  that  it  may  be  seen  by  the  warden  or  moderator,  and  the 
clerk  shall  check  his  name  on  the  voting-list.  He  shall  mark 
and  deposit  his  ballot  without  undue  delay,  and  shall  quit  said 
enclosed  space  as  soon  as  he  has  voted.  N"ot  more  than  one 
person  shall  be  permitted  to  occupy  any  voting-shelf  or  com- 
partment at  the  same  time,  and  no  person  shall  remain  in,  or 
occupy,  a  voting-shelf  or  compartment  longer  than  may  be 
necessary  to  prepare  his  ballot,  and  in  no  case  longer  than  five 
minutes.  Xo  voter,  not  an  election  officer,  whose  name  has 
been  checked  on  the  list  of  the  supei^isors  shall  be  allowed  to 
re-€nter  said  enclosed  space  during  said  election.     It  shall  be  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  66 

duty  of  the  warden  or  moderator  to  secure  the  observance  of  the 
provisions  of  this  section. 

Sec.  44.  Every  person  who  does  not  vote  a  ballot  delivered  !^^*®to°be  re- 
to  him  by  a  supervisor  of  election  shall,  before  leaving  the  ^|J^r.^  ^" 
enclosed  space,  return  such  ballot  to  the  supervisor,  and  no 
person  shall  take  or  remove  any  ballot  from  the  polling-place 
before  the  close  of  the  polls.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  warden 
or  moderator,  and  of  the  supervisor  or  officer  having  charge  of 
the  exit,  to  prevent  any  voter  from  leaving  the  enclosed  space 
until  such  voter  has  deposited  his  ballot  or  ballots,  or  has 
returned  his  unused  ballot  or  ballots,  as  herein  provided.  If 
any  voter  inadvertently  spoils  a  ballot,  he  may  obtain  another 
upon  returning  the  spoiled  one  and  satisfying  the  officer  of  the 
fact  of  the  inadvertence.  The  ballots  thus  returned  shall  be 
immediately  cancelled,  and,  together  with  those  not  distributed 
to  the  voters,  shall  be  preserved  and,  with  the  voting-Hat  used 
by  the  supervisors,  which  shall  be  certified  by  them  to  be  such, 
shall  be  securely  wrapped,  sealed,  and  delivered  to  the  several 
city  and  town  clerks  by  the  supervisors. 

Sec.  45.  Any  voter  who  declares  to  the  warden  or  moderator  to^mariT^hiB 
that  he  cannot  read  the  ballot,  or  that  by  blindness  or  other  ^Med.™*^  ^ 
physical  disability  he  is  unable  to  mark  his  ballot,  shall,  at  the 
request  of  the  warden  or  moderator,  receive  the  assistance  of  two 
of  the  supervisors,  one  a  democrat  and  the  other  a  republican, 
in  the  marking  thereof,  and  such  supervisors  shall  thereafter 
give  no  information  regarding  the  same.  The  warden  or  moder- 
ator may,  in  his  discretion,  require  such  declaration  of  disa- 
bility to  be  made  by  the  voter  under  oath  before  him,  and  he  is 
hereby  authorized  and  qualified  to  administer  the  same. 

Sec.  46.     If  for  any  reason  it  is  impossible  to  determine  the  oounting  of 

•^  ^  ballots. 

voter's  choice  for  any  office  to  be  filled,  his  ballot  shall  not  be  17  r.  i.  szs. 

24  R.   I    260 

counted  for  such  office,  but  it  shall  be  counted  for  all  offices  25  r.  l  521! 
properly  marked.     No  ballot  shall  be  rejected  for  any  technical  ^-  ^^'7 
error  which  does  not  make  it  impossible  to  determine  the  voter's  ^^^  ^'  ^^^ 
choice,  but  no  voter  shall  place  any  mark  upon  his  ballot  by 


66 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Of   defective 
ballots. 


Polls   to   be 
kept   open, 
how  long. 
No   other   busi- 
ness to  be 
transacted. 
This    section 
applies  to  town 
elections  only. 


which  it  may  he  afterwards  identified  as  the  one  voted  by  him. 
One  line  crossing  another  at  any  angle  within  the  circle  or  any 
voting-square,  or  at  the  right  of  any  name,  shall  be  deemed  a 
valid  voting-mark.  To  cancel  a  name  within  the  meaning  of 
this  chapter  the  voter  shall  draw  a  pencil  mark  through  the 
full  name.  A  cross  (X)  marked  in  a  voting-square  at  the  right 
of  any  name  in  a  column  above  which  the  circle  is  marked  shall 
be  treated  as  surplusage,  and  the  ballot  shall  not  be  deemed 
invalidated.  Xo  ballot  without  the  official  endorsement  shall, 
except  as  herein  otherwise  provided,  be  allowed  to  be  deposited 
in  the  ballot-box,  and  none  but  ballots  provided  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  be  counted.  Ballots 
not  counted  shall  be  marked  "  Defective "  on  the  back  thereof, 
and  shall  be  preserved  and  returned  with  the  other  ballots: 
Provided,  that  in  case  no  ballots  are  provided  at  any  voting-place 
in  accordance  with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  chapter,  or 
in  case  no  such  ballots  are  at  the  polls  and  ready  for  the  use  of 
voters,  the  voters  at  such  voting-place  may  use  any  ballot  and 
provide  themselves  therewith. 

Sec.  47.  In  all  towns  having  less  than  five  hundred  electors, 
the  polls  shall  be  kept  open  for  at  least  three  hours:  and  in 
towns  having  more  than  five  hundred  electors,  the  polls  shall  be 
kept  open  for  at  least  five  hours;  and  no  other  business  shall 
be  transacted  while  the  polls  are  open.  This  section  applies 
only  to  elections  mentioned  in  section  three  of  this  chapter. 


Penalties. 


Penalty   for 
violations  of 
this    chapter 
with  regard  to 
preparation    of 
the  ballot. 


Sec.  48.  A  vx)ter  who  shall,  except  as  herein  otherwise  pro- 
vided, allow  his  ballot  to  be  seen  by  any  person  with  an  apparent 
intention  of  letting  it  be  known  how  he  is  about  to  vote,  or  who 
shall  make  any  mark  upon  his  ballot  by  which  the  same  may  be 
identified  as  the  one  voted  by  him,  or  who  shall  make  a  false 
statement  as  to  his  inability  to  mark  his  ballot,  or  any  person 
who  shall  interfere  or  attempt  to  interfere  with  any  voter  when 
inside  said  enclosed  space  or  when  marking  his  ballot,  or  who 


ELECTION    LAWS.  67 

shall  endeavor  to  induce  any  voter  before  voting  to  show  how 
he  marks  or  lias  marked  his  ballot,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of 
not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars;  and 
election-officers  shall  report  any  person  so  doing  to  any  police 
officer  on  duty  at  the  polls,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  see  that 
the  offender  is  duly  brought  before  the  proper  court 

Sec.  49.     Any  person  who  shall  be  found  in  possession  of  any  Offenders  to  be 

•^    ^  r  .'     prosecuted. 

official  ballot  previous  to  or  during  an  election,  except  as  pro- 
vided in  this  chapter,  or  who  shall,  previous  to  an  election,  will- 
fully deface  or  destroy  any  list  of  candidates  posted  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  or  who,  not  having  voted  a 
ballot  delivered  to  him  by  a  supervisor  of  election,  shall  neglect 
or  refuse  to  return  such  ballot  to  the  supervisor  before  leaving 
said  enclosed  space,  or  who  takes  or'  removes,  or  attempts  to 
take  or  remove,  any  ballot  from  the  polling-place  before  the 
closing  of  the  polls,  or  who,  during  an  election,  shall  willfully 
deface,  tear  down,  remove,  destroy,  or  mark,  any  instruction- 
sheet  or  specimen-ballot  printed  or  posted  for  the  instruction  of 
voters,  or  who  shall,  during  an  election,  willfully  remove  or 
destroy  any  of  the  supplies  or  conveniences  furnished  to  enable 
a  voter  to  prepare  his  ballot,  or  shall  willfully  hinder  the  voting 
of  others,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  fifty  nor  Penalty  for 

•^  violations    of 

more  than  two  hundred  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  not  more  ^^^  chapter, 
than  three  months,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  50.     Any  person   who  shall  falsely  make,  or  willfully  with  regard  to 
deface  or  destroy,  any  certificate  of  nomination  or  nomination-  generally 
paper,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  any  letter  of  withdrawal,  or  file  [erferenlJ^  vJkh 
any  certificate  of  nomination  or  nomination-paper  or  letter  of  ^SSS!  etc^"' 
withdrawal,  knowing  the  same  or  any  part  thereof  to  be  falsely  ^^;  ^^^'s. 
made,  or  suppress  any  certificate  of  nomination  or  nomination-  ^^^"^  ^'  ^^^' 
paper  or  letter  of  withdrawal,  or  any  part  thereof,  which  has 
been  duly  filed,  or  forge  or  falsely  make  the  official  endorsement 
on  any  ballot,  or  willfully  destroy  or  deface  any  ballot,  or  will- 
fully delay  the  delivery  of  any  ballots,  and  any  person  or  persons 
who  shall  print,  stamp,  or  affix,  or  cause  to  be  printed,  stamped 


08 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Penalty  for  the 
non-perform- 
ance of  official 
duty. 


or  affixed,  upon  any  letter-head,  circular,  or  pamphlet  used  for 
political  purposes,  or  upon  political  literature  of  any  nature,  a 
representation  of  the  chosen  emhlem  or  device  of  any  political 
party  in  this  state  without  the  consent  in  writing  first  had  and 
obtained  of  the  chairman  of  the  state  central  committee  of  the 
political  party  whose  chosen  emblem  or  device  is  sought  to  be 
used  for  such  purposes^  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceed- 
ing one  thousand  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  not  more  than 
one  year,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  51.  Any  public  officer  upon  whom  a  duty  is  imposed  by 
this  chapter,  who  shall  willfully  neglect  to  perform  such  duty,  or 
who  shall  perform  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  hinder  the  objects  of 
this  chapter,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  fifty 
nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  not 
more  than  one  year,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 


Adjourned  or  Secondary  Elections. 


Ballots  for 
secondary  elec- 
tions furnish- 
ed by  whom. 
Pub.  Laws, 
1229,   sec.   9, 
April  26,  1905. 


Ballots  for 
secondary  elec- 
tions to  be 
folded,  and  put 
up  in  packages. 


Sec.  52.  The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  apply  in  case  of 
an  adjourned  or  second  or  other  subsequent  election  in  any  city 
or  town,  for  any  officer  whose  election  is  provided  for  in  and  by 
this  chapter.  In  the  case  of  such  elections  for  officers  mentioned 
in  section  one  of  this  chapter  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
of  state  to  procure  and  furnish  ballots  in  the  form  of  the  ballots 
provided  for  in  this  chapter,  with  the  names  of  the  candidates  to 
be  voted  for  arranged  thereon  according  to  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter.  In  the  case  of  such  elections  for  officers  mentioned  in 
sections  two  and  three  of  this  chapter  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
clerk  of  such  city  or  town  to  procure  and  furnish  such  ballots. 

Sec.  53.  The  ballots  when  printed  for  such  adjourned  or 
subsequent  election  shall  be  folded  as  is  provided  in  this  chapter, 
and  shall  be  put  up  in  packages  of  one  hundred  each.  A  record 
of  the  number  of  ballots  printed  and  furnished  to  each  voting- 
place  shall  be  kept  and  preserved  by  such  city  or  town  clerk. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  69 

Sec.   54.     There  shall  be  provided  for  each  voting-place  at  T^  H  PJ^^^^^ed, 

^  °  ^  m   what  num- 

which  an  election  is  to  be  held,  not  less  than  sixty  ballots  for  ^^^• 

'  -^  Pub.   Laws,' 

every  fifty  and  every  fraction  of  fifty  qualified  voters  therein.  1229,^  as^^'ioos' 

Sec.  55.     The  same  supervisors  of  election  who  acted  at  the  Supervisors  of  . 

primary    elec- 

first  election  shall  act  at  such  second  or  adioumed  or  other  sub-  <^^ons  to  act  at 

"  secondary  elec- 

sequent  election,  and  shall  have  and  exercise  the  same  powers  *^°°^- 
and  duties  at  such  second  or  adjourned  or  other  subsequent 
election  as  are  prescribed  in  this  chapter  for  them  to  have  and 
exercise  at  said  first  election;  and  upon  the  receipt  of  such 
ballots  the  warden  or  moderator  shall  cause  said  ballots  to  be 
used  at  such  election,  and  the  supervisors  shall  perform  the 
same  duties  as  in  the  first  ele'ction. 

Acceptance  by  Towns  for  Town  Elections. 

Sec.  56.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1626,  Public  This  chapter 
Laws.)     The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  also  apply  to  all  elections,  in 

^     "^  what  towna. 

elections  by  the  people  hereafter  held  in  the  towns  of  Cumber- 
land, East  Providence  and  Hopkinton,  and  in  every  town  which 
has  accepted  and  adopted  the  provisions  of  chapter  nine  hundred 
twenty  of  the  public  laws,  passed  at  the  January  session  in  the 
year  eighteen  hundred  ninety-one,  and  of  the  general  laws  in 
effect  February  one,  eighteen  hundred  ninety-six,  or  of  this 
chapter.* 

Sec.  57.     (As  amended  by  Section  7,  Chapter  1034,  Public  Towns  may 

.  vote   to    adopt 

Laws.)     If  at  least  one-tenth  in  number  of  the  qualified  electors  the  provisions 

^  of   this  chapter 

in  any  town,  not  including  cities,  shall,  twenty  days  previous  to  Jj^ J^^  ^^^^' 
any  general  election  of  state  officers  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  Pub.  Laws, 
the  first  Monday  in  November,  file  with  the  town  clerk  of  such  i^^- 
town  a  petition  that  the  electors  may  at  such  general  election 
cast  their  ballots  for  or  against  accepting  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter  so  far  as  the  same  apply  to  the  elections  mentioned  in 
section  three  of  this  chapter  such  town  clerk  shall  give  notice 
of  the  same  in  his  warrant  calling  the  town  or  district  meetings 
and  shall  at  least  eighteen  days  previous  to  the  day  of  such 
election  file  with  the  secretary  of  state  a  certificate  that  the 
*  Chapter  1626,  January  session,  1918. 


70 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Electors  of  this 
Btate   absent 
therefrom,   in 
time   of   war, 
being  in  mili- 
tary service  of 
United    States, 
may  vote    for 
"certain    officers. 
Pub.   Laws, 
584,  Jxme  15, 
1808. 

Manner  of  so 
doing. 


Duties  of 
board  of  can- 
vassers. 


Ehities  of   re- 
tuming-boards. 


question  "  Shall  the  town  accept  the  secret  ballot  law  for 
towns  ?  '^  is  to  be  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  electors  in  said 
town.  If  a  majority  of  the  ballots  so  cast  shall  be  in  favor  of 
accepting  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  so  far  as  the  same  apply 
as  aforesaid,  then  the  said  provisions  of  this  chapter  sliall  be  in 
effect  in  such  town;  but  if  a  majority  of  the  ballots  so  cast  shall 
be  against  accepting  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  then  the  said 
provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  not  take  effect  in  said  town. 

Sec.  58.  (As  amended  by  Section  8,  Chapter  1034,  Public 
Laws.)  Electors  of  this  state  who,  in  time  of  war,  are  absent 
from  the  state  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the  United  States, 
being  otherwise  qualified,  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  in  all  elec- 
tions in  the  state  for  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of 
the  United  States,  senators  and  representatives  in  congress  and 
general  officers  of  the  state,  in  the  following  manner :  every  such 
absent  elector  on  the  day  of  any  such  election  may  deliver  a 
written  or  printed  ballot  with  the  names  of  the  persons  voted  for 
thereon,  and  his  full  christian  and  surname,  and  his  voting  resi- 
dence in  the  state  by  street  and  number,  written  at  length  on  the 
back  thereof,  to  the  officer  commanding  the  regiment  or  company 
to  which  he  belongs;  and  all  such  ballots,  certified  by  such 
commanding  officer  to  have  been  given  by  the  electors  whose 
names  are  written  thereoil,  shall  be  by  such  commanding  officer 
forthwith  sealed  up,  properly  endorsed,  and  returned  to  the 
secretary  of  state,  to  be  by  him  safely  kept  and  delivered  to  the 
retuming-board  having  jurisdiction  to  determine  the  result  of 
said  election. 

Sec.  59.  Upon  completion  of  the  final  canvass  for  any  such 
election,  the  clerks  of  the  several  boards  of  canvassers  through- 
out the  state,  in  time  of  war,  shall  forthwith  certify,  seal  up  and 
transmit  a  certified  copy  of  the  voting-lists  so  canvassed  to  the 
secretary  of  state,  to  be  by  him  kept  and  delivered  to  the  proper 
retuming-board. 

Sec.  60.  'Said  returning-boards  respectively  within  the  time 
prescribed  by  law  for  counting  the  ballots  cast  in  such  elections. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  71 

upon  receipt  of  the  ballots  and  certified  copies  of  the  voting-lists 
aforesaid,  shall  compare  the  names  and  residences  of  the  electors 
endorsed  upon  the  backs  of  said  ballots  with  the  names  and 
residences  of  the  electors  contained  in  the  voting-lists  aforesaid 
from  the  voting-district,  ward  or  to^vn  in  which  the  elector 
purports  to  be  qualified,  checking  in  such  voting-lists  the  names 
of  such  electors  as  shall  appear  upon  said  ballots,  and  shall  count 
such  ballots  with  the  same  effect  as  if  such  ballots  had  been  given 
by  said  electors  in  open  town,  ward  or  district  meetings  at  any 
such  election  within  this  state :  Provided,  however,  that  said 
boards  shall  not  count  any  such  ballot  cast  "by  any  person  whose 
name  does  not  appear  upon  said  lists,  nor  any  ballots  not 
received  by  said  boards  within  the  time  prescribed  by  law  for 
counting  the  ballots  cast  in  any  such  election. 

Sec.  61.     (As  amended  by  Section  9,  Chapter  1034,  Public  Secretary  of 
Laws.)     At  least  sixty  days  before  any  such  election  whose  date  ^^^^iona^K 
is  fixed  by  law,  and  forthwith  upon  the  ordering  of  any  special  *^  cCTSn"5m- 
election  of  senators  or  representatives  in  congress,  the  secretary  Sficer"^  ser- 
of  state,  in  time  of  war,  shall  send  to  the  several  city  and  town  states!  town 
clerks,  except  to  the  city  clerk  of  Providence,  and  to  the  clerks 
of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  the  cities  of  Provi- 
dence and  Pawtucket  a  certified  copy  of  sections  fifty-eight  to 
sixty-one,  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  and  shall  send  to  each  com-  instructions, 

•J  '  '  r        ^  forms,  etc.,   to 

missioned  officer  of  every  company  enlisted  in  this  state  in  the  Jjn^^oaed** 
military  service  of  the  United  States  such  certified  copy,  together  <'®^^'*' 
with  a  form  of  the  requirements  to  be  signed  by  said  electors 
on  the  back  of  said  ballots,  and  a  form  of  certificate  and  endorse- 
ment on  the  package  containing  the  same  to  be  signed  by  such 
commanding  officer  as  aforesaid,  and  such  other  instructions  as 
he  may  think  proper. 


72 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


CHAPTER  12. 


im  D^aV^'   ^^  ^^^  Holding  of  Caucuses  in  the  Cities  of  Providence, 
Jt^,  I  356.  Newport,  and  Pawtucket. 


Holding  of  cau- 
cuses in  Provi- 
dence, New- 
port, Paw- 
tucket,   and 
Central  Falls. 


Method  of 
electing  ward 
and  city  com- 
mittees, powers 
and  duties 
thereof. 


(Provisions  of  this  Chapter  also  apply  to  Central  Falls. 
Chapter  479,  January  Session,  1909.) 


See 


Section  1.  (As  amended  by  Section  23,  Chapter  640,  and 
Section  1,  Chapter  1049,  Public  Laws.)  In  the  cities  of  Provi- 
dence, Newport,  Pawtucket,  and  Central  Falls,  the  caucuses  of 
all  political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter.  For  the  purposes  of  this  chapter,  a 
political  party  is  hereby  defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next 
preceding  annual  election  of  stat€  officers  cast  for  its  candidate 
for  governor  at  least  two  per  centum  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the 
state  for  that  office.  Caucus  and  convention  nominations  shall 
be  made  only  by  political  parties. 

Sec.  2.  (As  amended  by  Section  24,  Chapter  640,  Section  2. 
Chapter  1094;  and  Section  1,  Chapter  1547,  Public  Laws.)  The 
qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  each  ward  of  said 
cities  shall,  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  in  each  ward  of  said 
cities  to  elect  delegates  to  a  convention  to  nominate  the  mayoi 
and  other  city  officers,  elect  a  ward  committee  for  each  ward  oi 
said  cities:  Provided,  that  in  the  city  of  Newport  such  ward 
committee  shall  be  elected  at  a  caucus  held  in  each  ward  thereoi 
after  the  second  Thursday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Sep- 
tember, in  the  year  A.  D.  1914,  and  biennially  thereafter. 

The  members  of  the  several  ward  committees  of  each  city  oi 
tlie  same  political  party  shall  constitute  the  city  committee  o1 
such  political  party  for  that  city.  Each  city  committee  shal 
within  ten  days  after  its  organization  file  with  the  secretary  o: 
state  a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  In  N'ewport  anc 
Central  Falls  such  list  shall  also  be  filed  with  the  city  clerk,  anc 
in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  with  the  boards  o 


ELECTION    LAWS.  73 

canvassers  and  registration.       Each  city  committee  may  elect  g*y  commit^ 
officers  outside   of  its  membership,  from  among  the  qualified  of^te^meSr- 
electors  of  the  same  political  party  in  said  city,  and  such  officers  ^^^^' 
when  so  elected  shall,  by  virtue  of  their  election,  become  mem- 
bers of  the  city  committee  and  shall  hold  office  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  elected  and  qualified.     Officers  elected  from  outside  offlcera  so 

elected  not  to 

of  the  membership  of  a  city  committee  shall  at  no  time  exceed  ^^^^  three  in 

^  "^  number. 

three  in  number. 

The  general  management  of  the  affairs  of  each  political  party 
in  each  city  shall  be  vested  in  its  city  committee,  subject  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  which  the  state  committee  of  such  political 
party  shall  make.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  vacancy, 
of  a  city  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee,  and  any 
vacancy  occurring  in  the  membership  of  a  ward  committee  shall 
be  filled  by  the  remaining  members  of  such  ward  committee. 
A  statement  of  such  action  of  any  committee  shall  be  filed  as  in 
the  case  of  officers  and  members  first  chosen.     Ward  and  city  Term  of  office. 

•^    etc. 

committees  shall  hold  office,  respectively,  from  the  date  of  their 
election  until  the  next  annual  election  of  such  committees  and 
thereafter  until  their  successors  shall  have  organized.  City  com- 
mittees may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with  law,  to 
determine  membership  in  the  party  so  far  as  the  right  is  con- 
cerned ,to  participate  in  the  caucuses  of  which  they  have  the 
management  and  control,  and  to  restrain  those  not  entitled  to 
vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking  part  therein,  and 
such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to,  and  shall  govern  the 
officers  by  this  chapter  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing  cau- 
cus voting-lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they 
are  not  inconsistent  with  this  chapter.  Each  ward  committee 
shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it  belongs,  held 
in  the  ward  from  which  it  was  elected,  to  perform  the  duties 
herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.     (As  amended  by  Section  25,  Chapter  640,  and  Sec-  caii  for  cau- 

^  "^  J.  ^  cuses,    how   to 

tion  3,  Chapter  1049,  Public  Laws.)     All  caucuses  in  said  cities  ^^a^^c^^ 
shall  be  held  at  the  call  of  the  city  committee  of  the  political  **^°' 


74 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


City   clerks   of 
Newport  and 
Central  Falls 
and  boards  of 
canvassers   of- 
Pawtucket  and 
Providence  to 
be  notified  of 
date  of  caucus 
and  to  furnish 
polling-places 
therefor. 


party  holding  such  caucuses.  No  two  political  parties  shall  hold 
their  caucuses  on  the  same  day.  The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall 
be  issued  not  less  than  five  days  prior  to  the  day  on  which  they 
are  to  be  held.  It  shall  state  the  places  where  such  caucuses  are 
to  be  held,  the  hour  of  holding  the  same,  the  time  during  which 
the  polls  are  to  remain  open,  and  the  business  to  be  transacted 
thereat,  and  shall  be  published  at  least  twice  in  one  or  mo 
newspapers  published  in  the  city  in  which  such  caucuses  shall  be 
held,  or  in  some  newspaper  having  general  circulation  therein. 
Provided,  however,  that  the  call  for  the  city  of  Central  Falls 
shall  be  published  in  one  or  more  newspapers  which  are  circu- 
lated in  said  Central  Falls  and  which  are  published  in  either  the 
city  of  Pawtucket  or  the  city  of  Providence. 

Sec.  4.  (As  amended  by  Section  26,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the -date  on  which  a 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucuses  in  any  city,  the  chair- 
man of  the  city  committee  of  such  political  party  shall,  in  the 
cities  of  Newport  and  Central  Falls,  notify  in  writing  the  city 
clerk,  and  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  the  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration,  of  the  date  selected  for  such 
caucuses,  and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and 
notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its  cau- 
cuses on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may  be 
lawfully  held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and 
notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  cau- 
cuses may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified  in  writing  of  the  fact  by  the  city  clerk,  or  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  such 
chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another  date. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  city  clerks  and  said  boards  of  can- 
vassers and  registration,  in  and  at  the  expense  of  their  respec- 
tive cities,  to  provide  a  polling-place  in  each  representative-dis- 
trict for  the  caucus  of  such  representative-district,  and  in  each 
ward  for  the  caucus  of  such  ward,  and  to  notify  in  writing  such 


ELECTION    LAWS.  76 

chairman  as  to  the  place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days  prior 
to  the  date  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  5.      (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1049,  Public  caucuaes,  when 

^  -^  '  -f  J  tQ  be  held. 

Laws.)  Xo  caucus  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  pro- 
visions of  section  fourteen  of  this  chapter,  shall  be  held  within 
two'  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last 
day  for  filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus," 
nor  shall  any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days. 
All  caucuses  excepting  those  necessary  for  a  special  election  shajl 
be  lield  after  the  second  Thursday  next  after  the  first  Monday 
in  September  in  any  year,  and  all  caucuses  for  the  nomination 
of  candidates  for  the  city  council  of  either  of  said  cities  except- 
ing those  necessary  for  a  special  election  shall  be  held  within 
twenty-five  days  of  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in 
N'ovember  in  any  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  elec- 
tion shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before  nor  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day 
for  filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.     (As  amended  by  Section  27,  Chapter  640,  and  Sec-  Caucus  officers 

^  -^  :>  r  7  ^^  ^^  selected 

tion  5,  Chapter  1049,  Public  Laws.)  In  said  cities  the  city  ^y  city  com- 
committee  of  each  political  party  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to 
holding  the  first  caucus  next  after  the  first  Monday  m  Septem- 
ber, appoint  a  caucus  moderator  for  each  representative-district, 
and  a  caucus  clerk  for  each  voting-district  therein,  and  a  caucus 
warden  for  each  ward,  and  a  caucus  clerk  for  each  voting-district 
therein.  Each  of  said  moderators  or  wardens  and  clerks  shall 
be  a  qualified  elector  of  the  representative-district  or  ward  for 
which  he  is  appointed  and  a  member  of  such  political  party. 
Said  committee  shall  respectively  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur 
in  such  offices  from  any  cause,  including  that  of  removal  from 
the  ward  or  representative-district,  or  voting  district,  and  as 
hereinafter  provided. 

Each  committee  making  such  appointment  shall  file  with  the 
boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  in  the  cities  of  Providence 
and  Pawtucket,  respectively,  and  in  each  of  the  other  cities  with 


76  ELECTION    LAWS. 

the  city  clerk,  at  least  one  day  previous  to  the  date  selected 
by  its  party  for  holding  any  caucus,  the  names  of  the  persons 
appointed  by  them  caucus  officers  as  aforesaid;  and  all  caucus 
officers  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the  first  day  of 
January  next  succeeding  their  appointment  and  thereafter  until 
their  successors  are  appointed,  and  shall  have  the  same  powers 
and  duties,  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses,  as  are  conferred  and 
imposed  by  law  upon  .similar  officers  of  elective  meetings. 

In  case  of  a  change  of  the  lines  of  a  representative-district  or 
of  a  ward  in  any  of  said  cities,  or  of  a  redivision  of  any  repre- 
sentative-district thereof  into  voting-districts,  the  city  com- 
mittee of  each  political  party  thereof  may  revoke  such  appoint- 
ments by  them,  respectively,  made  in  the  case  of  all  caucus 
moderators,  wardens,  and  clerks  who  by  reason  of  such  change 
or  redivision  become  ineligible  to  serve  on  account  of  residence, 
and  appoint  others  in  their  stead,  and  the  city  committee  of 
each  political  party  shall  appoint  a  caucus  moderator,  and  in 
each  new  representative-district  or  voting-district  so  created,  if 
necessary,  the  city  committee  of  each  political  party  shall  ap- 
point a  caucus  warden  and  caucus  clerk  in  each  new  representa- 
tive-district or  voting-district  so  created. 

Duties  of  Sec.  7.     (As  amended  by  Section  28,  Chapter  640,  and  Sec- 

tion  6,  Chapter  1049,  Public  Laws.)  The  caucus  moderator  or 
warden  appointed,  as  hereinbefore  provided,  shall  call  the  caucus 
of  his  political  party  to  order,  and  shall  preside  thereat.  Each 
caucus  clerk  shall  check  the  voting-list  of  the  district  in  which 
he  is  appointed  to  serve.  In  case  a  caucus  moderator  or  warden 
is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in 
case  a  caucus  moderator  or  warden  becomes  incapacitated  dur- 
ing the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  ward  committee,  or  a  majority 
of  the  members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a 
qualified  elector  of  such  party  residing  in  the  representative- 
district  as  caucus  moderator,  or  a  qualified  elector  residing  in 
the  ward  as  caucus  warden,  for  such  caucus.  If  no  member  of 
the  ward  committee  is  present,  the  clerk  of  the  first  district  in 


ELECTION    LAWS.  77 

such  representative-district  or  ward,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence  or 
incapacity,  then  of  the  district  clerks  present  the  one  next  in 
numerical  order  of  the  districts,  shall  call  the  meeting  to  ord^r, 
and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some  qualified  person  as 
caucus  moderator  or  warden  of  such  caucus.     In  case  a  caucus 
clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called, 
or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from  performing 
his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  ward 
committee  of  such  ward,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall  appoint 
some   qualified   elector   of   the   representative-district*  or   ward, 
respectively,  as  such  caucus  clerk.     If  no  member  of  the  ward 
committee  is  present  the  caucus  moderator  or  warden  shall  ap- 
point some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as  caucus  clerk.     All  Jj^J  ^^ 
caucuses  shall  be  called  to  order  at  seven  o'clock  P.  M.     All  ^^*/"°**^ 
nominations  of  candidates  for  office  shall  be  made  by  filing  the 
names  of  said  candidates  in  writing  with  said  moderator  or 
warden,  after  seven  and  before  seven-thirty  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
no  ballot  shall  be  counted  for  any  candidate  for  office  not  so 
nominated.     The  polls  shall  be  opened  at  or  before  seven-thirty 
o'clock  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened  and  the  in- 
terior thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the  warden 
before  any  ballots  are  cast.     Any  necessary  business  not  finished 
at  seven-thirty  o'clock  P.  M.,  shall  be  postponed  until  after  the 
polls  are  closed  and  the  result  of  the  balloting  announced.     The 
polls  shall  be  kept  open  until  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  no  longer : 
Provided,  however,  that  the  time  for  closing  the  polls  at  the 
caucuses  in  said  city  of  Central  Falls  shall  be  at  nine  o'clock 
P.  M. ;  and  provided,  further,  that  in  the  event  of  but  one  nomi- 
nation for  each  political  office  the  pblls  in  each  city  shall  be  kept 
open  thirty  minutes.     Except  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the 
office  of  caucus  moderator  or  warden  and  caucus  clerk,  as  here- 
inbefore provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be  required  for 
the  choice  of  all  candidates  for  elective  office,  for  delegates  to 
conventions,  and  for  members  of  ward  committees,  to  be  elected  Form  of 

caucus  ballot. 

by  such  caucus.     All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  on  white 


78 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Who  may  take 
part  in  caucus. 
26  R.   I.   474. 


27  R. 


361. 


Voting-lists 
used,    by   whom 
to  be  prepared. 


paper,  and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any  caucus  ballot. 
The  names  of  all  candidates  for  which  any  elector  shall  vote  at 
any  caucus  shall  be  printed  or  written  upon  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.  (As  amended  by  Section  7,  Chapter  1049,  Public 
Laws.)  No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  the 
caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  twenty-six  calendar 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other 
political  party,  or  has  signed  nomination-papers  of  a  candidate 
or  candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 
placed  in  nomination  by  nomination-papers,  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  sucji  party  pro- 
vided for  in  section  two  of  this  chapter.  No  person  who  has 
voted  in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible  to 
sign  any  nomination-paper  containing  nominations  of  candi- 
dates, within  twenty-six  calendar  months  thereafter.* 

Sec.  9.  The  city  clerk  of  Newport  and  the  board  of  can- 
vassers and  registration  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  shall 
prepare  the  voting-lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  their 
respective  cities.  A  voting-list  shall  be  prepared  for  each 
voting-district  and  for  each  ward  not  divided  into  voting-dis- 
tricts. At  all  caucuses  the  voting-lists  as  last  published  or 
canvassed  according  to  law  by  the  boards  of  canvassers  of  such 
cities  shall  be  used,  corrected  as  hereinafter  provided.  The 
board  of  canvassers  in  each  of  said  cities  shall  hold  a  canvass 
meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  in  Novemher  in  each  year,  and  also  on 
a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to  the  earliest  day  lawfully 
selected  by  any  political  party  for  the  holding  of  caucuses  made 
necessary  by  a  special  election  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  city  council 
in  such  city,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting-lists  of  electors 
qualified,  and  who  may  be  qualified  by  the  payment  of  a  tax,  to 
vote  for  members  of  the  city  council.  Notice  of  said  canvass 
meetings  shall  be  given  in  such  manner  as  such  boards  of  can- 
vassers shall  respectively  prescribe. 

*  See  Section  9,  Chapter  1049,  added  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  71) 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting-lists  for  the  caucuses  same  subject, 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists 
specified  in  section  nine  of  this  chapter  the  names  of  all  persons 
shown  by  the  nomination-papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used 
caucus  voting-lists  in  the  possession  of  the  city  clerks,  to  be  ' 
debarred  from  voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  sec- 
tion eight  of  this  chapter,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations 
of  such  political  party  to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in.  its  caucuses. 
Each  such  list  shall  be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political 
party,  and  shall  be  certified  by  such  city  clerk  or  board  of  can- 
vassers and  registration,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Sec.  11.  The  city  clerk  in  Newport  and  the  board  of  can-  BaUot-boxes 
vassers  and  registration  in  Providence  and  Pawtucket  are  hereby 
authorized  and  required  to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  their 
respective  cities,  suitable  ballot-boxes,  blank  forms  or  certificates 
and  returns,  and  other  election  stationery,  for  each  polling-place 
at  which  any  caucus  is  held,  and  to  cause  the  voting-lists  pre- 
pared as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered  at  each  such  polling-place  to 
the  caucus  warden,  prior  to  the  hour  of  seven  o^clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  day  on  which  any  such  caucus  is  to  be  held; 
and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  chiefs  of  police  of  said 
cities  to  detail  such  number  of  police  officers  to  each  such  polling- 
place,  for  the  preservation  of  order,  and  to  deliver  the  voting- 
lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  requested  by  said  city  cierk  of  New- 
port and  said  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  Providence 
and  Pawtucket. 

Sec.  12.     The  caucus  warden  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all  caucus  warden 

to  receive  bal- 

persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished  lots. 
to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.     Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus  caucus  vote, 

warden  and  clerks  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the  plurality  to ' 

i.  .  elect. 

ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 


80 


ELECTION"   LAWS. 


Retiim  of  bal- 
lots and  vot- 
ing-lists. 


In  case  of  tie 
vote,  what  ac- 
tion to  be 
taken. 
27  R.  I.  866. 


by  the  caucus  warden  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 
may  be.  The  ballots  and  voting-lists  shall  then  be  forthwith 
separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result 
of  the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 
of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 
by  the  caucus  clerk  of  the  first  voting-district  in  each  ward  to  the 
city  clerk  in  the  city  of  Newport,  and  in  the  cities  of  Providence 
and  Pawtucket  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration. 

Sec.  14.  In  case  at  aay  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation  to 
any  convention,  or  of  any  ward  committee,  are  not  elected,  or  in 
case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 
caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 
caucus  by  the  caucus  warden,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  ward  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the 
vacancies  so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  con- 
vention. 

Sec.  15.     The  warden  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty- 
nomination,  by   four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each 

warden.  ' 

delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  meniber  of  a 
political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each 
candidate  for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination, 
and  shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by 
law  in  the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such 
caucus  for  any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably  filed 
in  the  proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  recount  of  the 
ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the 
provisions  of  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter,  in  which  case  he 
shall  not  deliver,  send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates. 
Upon  each  check-list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  checking 


Certificates  of 
election  or 


I 


ELECTION    LAWS.  81 

such  list  shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that  the  said  check-  ^J^?5i2t*\y'*' 
list  is  the  identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the  political  party  ''^"^• 
for  which  it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names  checked  were 
truly  and  properly  checked  at  such  caucus,  and  that  no  alter- 
ation or  erasure  or  additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.     If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  Recount  of  rote 

**    on  proper  vp- 

succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro-  ^twn^^ime** 
visions  of  this  chapter  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  ^^™^** 
for  nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or 
political  committee  shall  serve  upon  the  city  clerk  of  Newport 
and  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  the  board  of 
canvassers  and  registration,  a  statement  in  writing  that  the 
records  and  returns  made  by  the  caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are 
erroneous,  and  specifying  wherein  the  same  are  erroneous,  and 
claiming  an  election  or  nomination  by  said  caucus  for  the  peti- 
tioner, and  petitioning  for  a  recount  of  such  ballots  by  the  board 
of  canvassers  in  Newport  or  the  board  of  canvassers  and  regis- 
tration in  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  such  city  clerk  or  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast 
at  such  caucus  until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for 
the  nomination  or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter 
provided.  The  city  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  Notice  of  r*. 
shall  forthwith  notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers 
of  his  city  of  the  filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  said  board  of  canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause 
Qotice  in  writing  to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of 
canvassers  shall  direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same 
office  receiving  votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  peti- 
tioner, of  the  filing  of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall 
ippoint  a  time  and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within 
twenty-four  hours,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from 
the  time  of  ordering  such  notice.  At  the  time  specified  by  said 
Doard  of  canvassers  said  city  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board 
dl  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting-list  used 
thereat.  In  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  like  pro- 
6 


82 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Method  of  re- 
count and 
hearing  there- 
on.   . 

Recount  to  be 
conclusive,    and 
official  ballots 
to  be  prepared 
accordingly. 


Candidates 
may  be  present 
at  recount.' 


City  officials  to 
retain  under 
seal  all  used 
voting-lists  for 
what  period. 


Lists  may  be 
unsealed,   when. 


ceedings  shall  be  observed  by  the  board  of  canvassers  and  regis- 
tration, at  the  expense  of  the  petitioner,  and  at  the  appointed 
time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers  or  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration  shall  proceed  to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear 
and  determine  all  questions  raised  for  or  against  the  counting 
of  the  same  or  of  any  thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of 
such  recount  and  determination,  what  persons,  if  any,  were  law- 
fully elected  or  nominated  at  such  caucus.  Such  declaration 
shall  stand  as  the  true  record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such 
caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons so  declared  to  be  nominated  for  any  elective  office  to  be 
printed  upon  the  official  ballots,  in  accordance  with  a  certificate 
of  such  recount  and  determination  made  and  filed  with  him  by 
said  board,  which  certificate  shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and 
filed  as  of  the  day  of  holding  such  caucus.  Said  board  shall 
also  furnish  to  each  delegate  and  member  of  a  committee,  so 
declared  to  be  elected,  a  certificate  of  his  election.  Any  candi- 
date receiving  votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  nomination  or  office 
may  be  present  during  such  recount,  either  in  person  or  by  an 
agent  duly  appointed  in  writing. 

Sec.  17.  (As  amended  by  Section  8,  Chapter  1049,  Public 
Laws.)  The  city  clerks  of  Newport  and  Central  Falls  and  the 
board  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  the  cities  of  Providence 
and  Pawtucket  shall  retain  under  seal  for  the  period  of  twenty- 
six  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting-lists  returned  to  them 
under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter:  Provided,  that  such  lists 
may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  provided  for  in  sec- 
tions ten  and  sixteen  of  this  chapter,  after  which  they  shall  be 
immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  city  clerks  of  N'ewport  and 
Central  Falls,  or  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  in 
Providence  or  of  Pawtucket,  after  a  check-list  has  been  used  at 
a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held  under  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter,  upon  written  application .  for  a  copy  of  the  list  a? 
checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the  city  where  such 
list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender  of  the  fees  provider 


ELECTION    LAWS.  83 

by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the  wrapper  containing 
such  check-list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such  applicant  a  certified 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then  reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.  Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party  Penalties, 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  chapter, 
or  shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  chapter,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor 
more  than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not 
exceeding  thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who, 
knowing  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to 
vote,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than 
his  own,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his 
own  name,  or  deposits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one 
ballot  for  any  candidate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any 
convention  or  member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same 
balloting,  or  at  any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus 
clerk  or  the  presiding  officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right 
to  vote  at  such  caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in 
jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person 
not  entitled  to  vote  at  a  caucus,  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote 
under  a  name  other  than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting 
twice  upon  the  voter's  own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in 
depositing  or  attempting  to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one 
ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the  same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  wil- 
fully alters,  or  willfully  makes  any  change,  erasure,'  or  addi- 
tional check  upon  the  voting-list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  cau- 
cus, or,  having  custody  or  control  of  such  voting-list,  shall 
suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change,  erasure,  or  additional 
check  to  b€  made  upon  such  voting-list,  shall  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty  days.  Excepting 
otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  imposed  by  law  upon 
election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who  violate  the  pro- 
visions of  law  regulating  elective  meetings  are  hereby  imposed 


84 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Arrest  without 

warrant. 

27  R.   I.   356. 


Secretary  of 
state  to  furnish 
copies  of  cer- 
tain nomina- 
tion  papers. 


upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers  and  voters  for 
the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  detected 
in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  20.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 
city  clerk  of  each  of  said  cities,  copies  of  all  nomination-papers 
filed  with  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  city. 


Certain   persons 
not  to  be  pre- 
vented   from 
taking-   part   in 
caucuses. 


(Added  by  Section  9,  Chapter  1049,  Public  Laws.) 
The  provisions  of  chapter  12  of  the  General  Laws  debarring 
persons  who  have  signed  nomination  papers  from  voting  or 
taking  part  in  the  caucuses  of  political  parties  shall  not  prevent 
those  persons  who  have  signed  nomination-papers  or  who  have 
voted  for  candidates  under  the  designation  of  a  political  part)' 
not  then  recognized  by  said  chapter  from  voting  or  taking  part 
in  the  caucuses  of  said  political  party  which  has  become  such 
under  the  definition  of  said  chapter. 


Pub.  Laws,  ch. 
1349,  April  19, 
1906. 


Voting-ma- 
chines,   use   of 
authorized  at 
elections. 


Terms  used  in 
this  chapter  de- 
fined. 


CHAPTER  13. 

Of  the  Use  of  Voting-Machines  at  State^  City  and  Town 

Elections. 

Section  1.  The  use  at  any  state,  city,  or  town  election  of 
voting-machines  of  such  type  or  make  as  shall  have  been  ex- 
amined and  approved  by  the  state  returning-board  is  hereby 
authorized  under  the  restrictions  provided  in  this  chapter. 

Sec.  2.  In  this  chapter,  unless  the  context  otherwise  requires : 
The  term  "  state  election  "  shall  mean  any  election  at  which 
any  of  the  officers  named  in  section  one  of  chapter  eleven  are  to 
be  chosen,  or  any  elective  meeting  at  which  a  question  or  an 
amendment  to  the  constitution  is  submitted  to  the  electors  of 
the  state; 

The  term  "  town  election "  shall  include  city  election,   and 


ELECTION    LAWS.  85 

shall  mean  any  election  at  which  any  city,  town,  ward,  or  dis- 
trict officers  are  to  be  chosen,  or  any  elective  meeting  at  which  a 
question  is  to  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  a  city  or  town  or  of 
any  subdivision  thereof; 

The  term  "  party  '^  shall  mean  any  political  organization  or  . 
group  of  citizens  making  nominations  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  sections  four  to  twenty-three,  inclusive,  of  chapter 
eleven. 

The  term  "  question ''  shall  mean  any  question  submitted  to 
the  voters  of  any  city  or  to\\Ti  or  of  any  subdivision  thereof,  or 
any  question  or  amendment  to  the  constitution  submitted  to 
the  voters  of  the  state; 

The  term  "  town  "  shall  include  city,  and  the  term  "  town 
clerk ''  or  '"'  clerk  of  the  town  '^  shall  include  city  clerk ; 

The  term  "  moderator  "  shall  include  warden  and  the  presid- 
ing officer  of  any  voting-place; 

The  term  "  machine,"  when  used  in  sections  five  to  twenty- 
three,  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  shall  mean  any  voting-machine 
of  a  type  or  make  approved  by  the  state  returning-board ; 

The  term  "  device  ^'  shall  mean  the  lever,  knob,  button,  or 
other  mechanical  contrivance  connected  with  the  face-plate  of  a 
voting-machine,  by  which  the  voter  shall  register  his  vote; 

The  term  "  face-plate  "  shall  mean  that  portion  of  the  voting- 
machine  facing  the  voter  as  he  enters  to  vote,  upon  which  are 
arranged  and  displayed  the  devices  by  which  he  is  to  register  his 
vote; 

The  term  "  counter  "  shall  mean  the  numbered  wheels,  dials, 
or  other  mechanism  of  a  voting-machine  whereby  the  votes  for 
each  candidate  and  upon  each  question  are  indicated,  recorded, 
and  counted ;  and  the  term  "  protective  counter ''  shall  mean  a 
separate  counter  registering  999,999,  which  cannot  be  reset, 
and  which  records  the  total  number  of  movements  of  the  operat- 
ing lever. 

Sec.  3.  AAHienever  requested  by  any  person  representing 
■any  type  or  make  of  voting-machine  which  in  the  opinion  of  the 


86 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


State  return- 
ing-board  to  ex- 
amine voting- 
machines, 
•when. 


Said  board  to 
approve  in- 
Btruction- 
Bheets  furnished 
by  manufac- 
turers of  ma- 
chines. 


Requirements 
to    be   met   by 
machines. 


state  returning-board  will  probably  comply  with  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter,  said  board  shall  examine  such  machine,  and  if 
satisfied  as  to  the  dura;bility,  accuracy,  efficiency,  and  capacity 
of  such  machine,  and  that  it  does  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  this  chapter,  said  board  shall  approve  such  type  or  make  of 
machine,  and  shall  certify  such  approval  to  the  secretary  of 
state,  together  with  the  report,  drawings,  and  photographs, 
which  shall  be  a  public  record,  and  thereafter  such  type  or  make 
of  machine  may  be  used  as  provided  in  this  chapter.  In  making 
such  examination  said  board  may  employ  mechanical  experts  to 
assist  it,  and  the  expense  of  the  services  of  such  experts,  not 
exceeding  two  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  paid,  by  the  person  or 
persons  offering  such  machine  for  examination,  before  such 
examination  is  had,  and  such  mechanical  experts  shall  sign  the 
certificate  of  approval  filed  by  said  board  with  the  secretary  of 
state  under  this  section :  Provided,  however,  that  no  type  or 
make  of  machine  shall  be  used  at  any  state  or  town  election 
vmtil  such  machine  shall  have  been  approved  by  said  board. 

The  state  returning-board  shall  also  pass  upon  and  approve 
suitable  printed  and  illustrated  instructions  furnished  by  the 
manufacturers  of  any  machines  approved  by  said  board,  and 
when  such  instructions  are  so  approved  they  shall  be  filed  with 
the  secrtary  of  state,  who  shall  issue  copies  of  the  same  to  the 
city  and  town  officials  and  other  officers  of  election  for  their 
guidance  in  preparing  the  machines  for  election,  and  such  in- 
structions shall  be  binding  upon  the  custodian  and  other  offi-. 
cials  concerned  thereby.  || 

Sec.  4.  Every  type  or  make  of  voting-machine  approved  b^ 
the  state  returning-board  must  meet  the  following  require 
ments : 

It  must  permit  a  voter  to  vote  in  absolute  secrecy,  by  means  o 
a  mechanical  device,  for  all  the  candidates  for  whom  he  is  en 
titled  to  vote,  at  any  election  at  which  such  machine  is  to  b 
used; 

It  must  also  permit  a  voter  to  vote  for  or  against  all  question 


ELECTION    LAWS.  .87 

upon  which  he  is  entitled  to  vote,  at  any  election  at  which  such 
machine  is  to  be  used ; 

It  must  provide  one  such  device  for  each  candidate  and  also 
party  devices  whereby  a  voter  may  vote  for  all  the  candidates  of 
any  party  of  his  choice  by  one  operation,  and  such  party  devices 
must  be  capable  of  being  locked  out  of  operation  without 
interfering  with  the  voting  for  candidates  individually ; 

It  must  permit  a  voter  to  vote  for  candidates  for  electors  of 
president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States  individually, 
or  by  means  of  a  single  device  to  vote  for  the  entire  group  of 
such  candidates  nominated  by  any  party ; 

It  must  provide  a  means  whereby  a  voter  can  vo<te  for  any 
person  for  a»y  office,  although  such  person  may  not  be  a  can- 
date  for  such  office; 

It  must  be  so  constructed  that  a  voter  cannot  vote  twice  for 
any  one  candidate  for  the  same  office,  and  cannot  vote  for  more 
than  one  person  for  the  same  office  except  where  a  voter  is  law- 
fully entitled  to  so  vote,  and  cannot  vote  for  more  persons  than 
he  is  entitled  to  vote  for; 

It  must  be  so  constructed  that  a  voter  can  change  his  vote 
for  any  of  the  candidates  on  any  of  the  voting-devices  up  to  the 
time  he  is  ready  to  register  his  vote; 

It  must  be  capable  of  being  used  for  state  and  town  elections 
at  the  same  time,  when  both  elections  are  held  on  the  same  day;. 

It  must  be  fitted  with  a  face-plate  to  which  each  device  can  be 
affixed  and  accurately  labeled  so  as  to  show  clearly  and  dis- 
tinctly the  office,  the  name  and  address  of  the  candidate,  and  the- 
party  which  such  device  represents;  and  in  the  case  of  each 
party  device,  so  that  such  device  can  show  the  party  emblem 
provided  by  section  twenty-four  of  chapter  eleven.  Such  face- 
plate shall  be  of  such  size,  and  so  constructed,  as  to  permit  of 
the  arrangement  thereon  of  each  device  and  its  label,  in  per- 
pendicular party  columns  or  parallel  party  rows,  and  such 
face-plate  must  be  ample  in  size  to  accommodate  at  least  seven 


88 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Secretary  of 
(State  to  invite 
bids  for  ma- 
chines, and 
may  purchase 
same,    wh«i. 


different  party  columns  or  rows  and  at  least  seven  different 
questions ; 

It  must  correctly  register,  by  means  of  mechanical  counters, 
the  number  of  voters  by  whom  it  is  used,  and  every  vote  cast  for 
each  candidate  and  upon  each  question,  and  it  must  be  capable 
of  being  so  closed  during  the  time  the  polls  are  open  that  no 
person  can  see  or  know  the  number  of  votes  registered  for  any 
candidate,  person,  or  question.  Such  counters  shall  be  so 
attached  to  the  machine  that  by  means  of  labels  or  numbers 
they  can  be  clearly  identified  with  the  devices  on  the  face-plate 
by  which  they  are  operated; 

It  must  be  provided  with  a  lock  or  locks  by  means  of  which  the 
operation  of  the  devices  and  the  movement  of  the  voting, 
counting  and  registering  mechanism  may  be  absolutely  pre- 
vented and  prohibited,  whenever  such  prevention  and  pro- 
hibition is  required  by  law. 

Any  machine  that  does  not  conform  in  all  lespects  to  the  fore- 
going requirements  shall  not  be  approved  by  the  state  returning- 
board. 

Sec.  5.  Whenever  the  general  assembly  shall  make  an  ap- 
priation  for  the  purchase  of  machines,  the  secretary  of  state 
shall  by  advertisement  in  the  newspapers  invite  bids  for  the 
furnishing  of  such  type  or  make  of  machine  as  has  been  ap- 
proved by  the  state  returning-board,  and  upon  receipt  of  satis- 
factory bids  he  shall  have  authority  to  contract  for  the  furnish- 
ing of  the  machines  in  such  manner  and  at  such  times  as  he 
may  deem  necessary,  providing,  however,  that  no  such  contract 
shall  be  binding  until  approved  by  the  governor  and  the  attor- 
ney-general and  until  the  secretary  of  state  shall  receive  a  bond, 
in  such  sum  and  with  such  sureties  as  shall  be  approved  by  the 
governor  and  the  attorney-general,  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  the  terms  of  such  contract.  All  machines  purchased 
under  any  such  contract  shall  be  paid  for  from  the  aforenamed 
appropriation,  and  the  state  auditor  shall  draw  his  order  or 
orders  for  the  payment  therefor,  upon  receipt  of  vouchers  ap- 


ELECTION    LAWS.  89 

proved  by  the  secretary  of  state  and  the  governor.     The  secre- 
tarv  of  state  may  employ  a  mechanical  expert  to  examine  all  Mechanical  ex- 
machines  purchased  by  him  at  the  time  of  their  delivery,  and  to  employed. 
instruct  the  town  and  city  officers,  to  whose  care  and  custody 
the  machines  are  committed^  in  the  use  and  operation  thereof. 
Such  expert  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriation  aforenamed 
a  sum  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  day's  service,  and  the 
state  auditor  shall  draw  his  orders  for  the  payment  of  such  ser- 
vices upon  the  receipt  of  vouchers  approved  by  the  secretary  of 
state.     The  secretary  of  state  shall  in  his  discretion  supply  such 
machines  as  have  been  purchased  by  the  state  under  the  pro-  Machines  to  b« 
visions  of  this  section,  to  be  used  for  such  period  of  time  as  he  citiea^\nd*^ 

.  .  ,  .  .       .  „  towns,   when. 

may  designate,  to  any  town  or  city  making  requisition  therefor. 
Such  requisition  shall  be  manifested  by  vote  of  the  town  council 
of  any  town  or  the  board  of  aldermen  of  any  city,  and  a  cer- 
tified copy  of  such  vote  shall  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state 
at  least  one  month  before  any  election  at  which  the  machines 
are  to  be  used.  Machines  furnished  under  the  provisions  of  this 
section  may  thereafter  be  used  at  all  state  and  town  elections 
and  may  be  used  in  one  or  more  voting-places  of  such  town: 
Provided,  however,  that  at  each  voting-place  where  such  ma- 
chines are  used  at  least  one  machine  shall  be  furnished  for  every 
six  hundred  qualified  electors,  and  for  every  fraction  of  six 
hundred  qualified  electors  in  excess  or  one  hundred,  whose  names 
are  upon  the  voting-list  used  at  such  voting-place.  All  ma- 
chines furnished  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be 
delivered  by  the  secretary  of  state  to  the  clerk  of  the  town 
wherein  they  are  to  be  used,  at  the  expense  of  such  town,  and 
said  clerk  shall  be  responsible  for  their  safe-keeping,  and  the 
authorities  of  such  town  shall  furnish  said  clerk  with  suficient 
police  protection  to  enable  him  at  all  times,  whether  such  ma- 
chines are  in  use  or  not,  to  properly  protect  them  from  injury 
or  damage:  Provided,  however,  that  such  machines  shall 
remain  the  porpetry  of  the  state,  and  when  their  use  shall  for 
any  reason  be  discontinued,  they  shall  be  returned  to  the  secre- 


90 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Town  or  city 
may  purchase 
or  lease  ma- 
ohinee. 


tary  of  state  by  the  town  clerk,  at  the  expense  of  the  to\^. 
\Yhenever  any  machines  are  furnished  under  this  section  to  the 
cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  they  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
board  of  canvassers  and  registration,  and  the  duties  prescribed 
for  town  clerks  by  this  section  in  regard  to  their  custody,  safe- 
keeping, and  return  shall  devolve  upon  and  be  performed  by 
said  board. 

The  use  of  any  machine,  purchased  and  supplied  under  the 
provisions  of  this  section,  may  be  discontinued  at  any  time  by  an 
order  of  the  secretary  of  state  filed  with  the  town  clerk  of  the 
town  in  which  such  machines  are  to  be  used,  and  the  secretary 
of  state  shall  order  the  discontinuance  of  the  use  of  such  ma- 
chines Avhenever  he  shall  receive  a  certified  copy  of  a  vote  re- 
questing such  discontinuance,  passed  by  the  town  council  or  the 
board  of  aldermen  of  any  town  or  city  in  which  such  machines 
are  being  used;  but  such  certified  copy  shall  be  filed  with  the 
secretary  of  state  not  later  than  one  month  before  any  election 
at  which  the  machines  are  to  be  used. 

Sec.  6.  Any  town  or  ctiy,  by  vote  of  its  town  or  city  council, 
may  purchase  or  lease  machines  and  may  order  their  use  in  any 
one  or  more  voting-places  of  such  town  or  city,  and  said  councils 
may  also  order  the  experimental  use  of  leased  machines  at  any 
election  in  one  or  more  voting-places  of  such  town  or  city,  and 
the  use  of  such  machines  shall  be  valid  for  all  purposes  of  the 
election.  Any  such  order  shall  be  made  not  later  than  one 
month  before  the  day  of  the  election  at  which  such  machines  are 
to  be  used,  and  a  certified  copy  of  such  order  shall  be  forthwith 
filed  with  the  secretary  of  state,  and  such  order  shall  show  the 
number  of  machines  to  be  used,  the  date  of  the  election  and  the 
voting-places  at  which  they  are  to  be  used,  whereupon  the 
secretary  of  state  shall  cause  such  machines  to  be  examined  and 
to  be  numbered  as  required  by  section  seven  of  this  chapter. 
Any  order  made  under  this  section  shall  continue  in  force 
until  revoked  by  vote  of  the  town  or  city  council,  but  such  revo- 
cation  shall   be   made   not   later   than    one   month   before   the 


ELECTION    LAWS.  91 

election  at  which  the  use  of  such  machine  is  to  be  discontinued, 
and  a  certified  copy  of  the  revoking  order  shall  forthwith  be 
filed  with  the  secretary  of  state.  Any  purchase  or  lease  of 
machines  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  at  the 
expense  of  the  city  or  town  making  such  purchase  or  lease,  and 
at  each  voting-place  where  such  machines  are  used  at  least 
one  machine  shall  be  furnished  for  every  six  hundred  qualified 
electors,  and  for  every  fraction  of  six  hundred  qualified  electors 
in  excess  of  one  hundred,  whose  names  are  upon  the  voting-list 
used  at  such  voting-place  and  entitled  to  use  such  machines: 
Provided,  however,  that  no  machine  purchased  or  leased  under 
the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  used  in  any  state  or  town 
election  until  such  machine  has  been  examined  by  the  secretary 
of  state  or  by  an  expert  mechanic  appointed  by  him,  and  is 
found  by  the  secretary  of  state  to  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  this  chapter.  The  expense  of  such  examination  not  exceed- 
ing ten  dollars  for  each  machine  shall  be  paid  by  the  city  or 
town  purchasing  or  leasing  the  same. 

Sec.  7.     Every  machine  purchased  or  leased  under  the  pro-  Machines  to  be 

numbered  by 

visions  of  sections  five  and  six  of  this  chapter  shall  be  numbered  the  secretary 

^  of  state. 

by  the  secretary  of  state,  and  such  number  shall  be  inscribed 
upon  the  machine  in  some  conspicuous  place,  and  thereafter 
such  machine  shall  be  designated  and  identified  by  such  num- 
ber in  all  records,  reports,  certificates,  and  statements  required 
to  be  made  by  this  chapter  or  by  any  other  provision  of  law, 
wherein  such  machine  is  to  be  designated.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  secretary  of  state  to  keep  a  record  of  the  number  of  each 
machine  and  of  the  voting-place  in  which  such  machine  is  used, 
and  to  that  end  he  may  require  the  person  who  has  custody 
of  any  machine  to  furnish  him  with  the  necessary  information 
for  such  record. 

Sec.  8.     In  all  cases  where  machines  are  to  be  used  for  a  Diagrams  or 

face-platefl  to 

state  election  or  for  a  town  election  held  on  the  same  day  as  be  prepared, 

-^  by  whom. 

a  state  election  the  secretary  of  state,  and  in  all  cases  where 
machines  are  to  be  used  for  town  elections  only,  the  town  clerk. 


92  ELECTION   LAWS. 

shall  prepare  a  diagram  of  the  face-plate  of  the  machines  to 
be  used  at  such  election,  and  such  diagram  shall  show  the  man- 
ner and  order  in  which  the  devices  and  labels  shall  be  arranged 
upon  such-face  plate.  Such  diagram  shall  be  made  up  as  nearly 
as  possible  to  conform  to  the  provisions  of  section  twenty- 
four  of  chapter  eleven,  in  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  the 
offices  and  candidates  and  party  columns  on  the  paper  ballot; 
except  that  whenever  the  face-plate  will  permit  the  list  of  can- 
didates shall  be  arranged  in  parallel  party  rows  running  hori- 
zontally across  the  face-plate.  All  officers  charged  with  the 
duty  of  arranging  the  devices  and  labels  upon  the  face-plate  of 
any  machine  for  any  election  shall  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of 
such  diagram  at  least  three  days  before  the  date  of  such  elec- 
tion and  shall  be  governed  thereby  in  the  performance  of  such 
duty. 

r^beiB  to  be  Sec.  9.     The  laibels  required  for  any  machine  to  be  used  at  a 

furnished  at  ex- 
pense of  state,     state  election,  or  at  a  town  electioij  held  on  .the  same  day  as  a 

state  election,  shall  be  printed  and  furnished  at  the  expense  of 
the  state  and  shall  be  supplied  by  the  secretary  of  state  to  the 
clerk  of  the  town  where  such  machine  is  to  be  used.  Such  clerk 
shall  certify  to  the  secretary  of  state,  not  later  than  ten  days 
before  such  town  election,  the  offices  to  be  voted  for  thereat, 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  candidates  for  such  offices,  and 
the  party  name  under  which  such  candidates  were  nominated, 
and  any  other  information  necessary  to  enable  the  secretary  of 
state  to  prepare  labels  uniform  in  size,  type,  color,  and  appear- 
ance with  those  prepared  by  him  for  the  state  election,  and  in 
like  manner  such  clerk  shall  certify  to  the  secretary  of  state  a 
copy  of  each  question  to  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  such 
town  so  that  suitable  labels  may  be  prepared  and  furnished 
therefor.  Labels  required  for  machines  to  be  used  at  town 
elections  only  shall  be  prepared  and  furnished  at  the  expense  of 
such  town,  and  by  the  clerk  of  the  town.  All  labels  provided 
under  this  section  shall  be  printed  in  black  ink  on  clear,  white 
material  in  plain  clear  type,  as  large  as  the  label  space  will 


ELECTION   LAWS.  96 

permit,  and  three  sets  of  such  labels  shall  be  furnished  for  each 
machine.  Upon  the  label  for  questions  the  statement  of  the 
question  may  be  aibbreviated  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
space  provided,  and  shall  be  printed  in  type  that  can  be  easily 
read^  with  the  words  "  Yes  "  and  "  ISTo,"  or  "  Approve "  and 
"  Reject/^  whichever  may  be  required,  for  the  voter  to  indicate 
his  vote  for  or  against  any  such  question. 

The  officers  required  by  this  section  to  provide  labels  shall  Sample  ballot. 
also  prepare  a  sample  ballot,  which  may  be  of  a  reduced  size, 
in  the  form  of  a  diagram  or  fac-simile  of  the  face-plate  of  the 
machine  after  the  labels  and  devices  have  been  arranged  thereon 
ready  for  the  use  of  the  voter.  Such  sample  ballot  shall  clearly 
and  briefly  explain  and  illustrate  the  manner  of  operating  the 
machine,  of  voting  a  straight  party  ticket,  of  voting  for  can- 
didates individually,  and  of  voting  upon  questions.  No  fewer 
than  three  of  such  sample  ballots  shall  be  furnished  for  each 
voting-place. 

The  secretary  of  state  shall  also  prepare  and  furnish,  for  each  Forma  to  be 
voting-place  at  which  machines  are  to  be  used  for  state  elections,  state  elections 

by  secretary  of 

suitable  forms  whereon  may  be  recorded  the  following  informa-  state, 
tion  for  each  machine  in  use : 

The  machine  number; 

The  voting-place  at  which  such  machine  is  used; 

The  date  of  the  election  at  which  such  machine  is  used ; 

The  number  of  names  checked  upon  the  voting-list  used  at 
such  election ; 

The  number  of  voters  registered  by  the  machine ; 

The  number  of  votes  registered  by  the  machine  for  each  can- 
didate, and  for  what  office ; 

The  number  of  votes  registered  by  the  machine  for  and  against 
each  question  submitted. 

Space  shall  be  left  on  such  form  wherein  may  be  recorded  the 
number  of  votes  given  in  for  any  person  not  a  candidate  at  such 
election,  and  for  what  office.  Spaces  shall  also  be  left  for  the 
signatures  of  the  moderator,  clerk,  and  at  least  two  supervisors. 


94  ELECTION    LAWS. 

The  secretary  of  state  shall  also  furnish  the  necessary  envelopes 
and  adhesive  labels  required  to  be  used  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  section  fourteen  of  this  chapter. 

Similar  forms  shall  be  prepared  and  furnished  by  the  to^vn 
clerk  of  any  town  wherein  machines  are  to  be  used  for  a  town 
election  only,  whereon  may  be  recorded  like  informataion  in  re- 
gard to  the  votes  cast  for  eacli  candidate  or  person  for  town 
offices  and  for  and  against  each  question  submitted  to  the  voters 
of  the  town;  and  such  clerk  shall  also  furnish  the  necessary 
envelopes  and  adhesive  labels  required  to  be  used  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  section  fourteen  of  this  chapter. 

Whenever  machines  are  to  be  used  at  any  voting-place  in  the 
cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  the  officers  required  by  this 
section  to  furnish  and  deliver  labels,  forms,  envelopes,  and 
adhesive  labels  shall  furnish  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration.  All  printed  matter,  stationery 
and  supplies  required  to  be  furnished  by  this  section  shall  be 
delivered  to  the  proper  officer  not  later  than  three  days  before 
the  election  for  which  they  are  to  be  used. 

Party  watch-  Sec.   10.     The  chairman  of  the  town  or  city  committee  of 

appointed.  any  political  party,  may  ten  days  before  any  election  in  such 

city  or  town  at  which  machines  are  to  be  used,  apply  to  the 
town  or  city  clerk  for  the  appointment  of  party  watchers. 
Said  clerk  shall,  within  two  days  after  the  receipt  of  such  appli- 
cation, from  a  list  of  names  to  be  furnished  by  such  chairman, 
appoint  one  such  watcher  for  each  voting-place  at  which  ma- 
chines are  to  be  used.  Such  watcher  shall  have  the  right  to 
visit  the  voting-place  for  which  he  is  appointed  and  inspect  the 
machines  when  they  are  being  set  up,  arranged,  locked,  and 
sealed  and  prepared  for  the  use  of  the  voters.  He  shall  also  be 
admitted  within  the  guard-rail  on  the  morning  of  election,  before 
the  opening  of  the  polls,  to  witness  the  inspection  of  the  ma- 
chines by  the  moderator,  but  shall  uot  remain  within  such 
guard-rail  after  the  polls  are  declared  open.  He  shall  also  be 
admitted  within  the  guard-rail,  after  the  polls  are  closed,  to 


ELECTION    LAWS.  95 

witness  tlie  announcement  and  recording  of  the  vote  registered 
by  the  machines  and  the  final  locking  of  the  machines  by  the 
moderator.  He  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  compensation  for 
his  services,  and  shall  not,  while  within  the  guard-rail,  either 
by  word  or  action,  interfere  with  the  election-officers  in  the  per- 
formance of  their  duties,  and  any  attempt  on  his  part  so  to  do 
shall  be  deemed  good  cause  for  his  removal  from  the  voting- 
place  by  order  of  the  moderator.  In  the  cities  of  Providence  and 
Pawtucket  such  watchers  shall  be  appointed,  by  the  board  of 
canvassers  and  registration,  from  a  list  of  names  submitted  to 
said  board  by  the  chairman  of  the  city  committee  of  any  poli- 
tical party  for  that  city. 

Sec.  11.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  any  town  clerk  to  whose  Duty  of  town 

-^  -^  clerk. 

custody  any  machines  have  been  delivered  to  see  that  each 
machine  is  properly  and  safely  located  in  the  voting-place  where 
it  is  to  be  used,  and  to  notify  the  secretary  of  state  of  such  loca- 
tion. Before  the  time  for  the  opening  of  the  polls  at  any  elec- 
tion when  machines  are  to  be  used  he  shall  affix  the  labels  to  the 
devices  on  the  face-plate  of  each  machine,  shall  see  that  such 
devices  and  labels  are  arranged  on  the  face-plate  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  that  such  devices  are  in 
good  working  order,  and  that  the  machine  is  properly  set  and 
adjusted  and  ready  for  use  at  such  election.  He  shall  also  see 
that  all  of  the  party  devices  not  needed  in  the  election  are 
securely  locked,  and  that  all  the  counters  are  set  at  zero  and 
record  no  vote  for  any  candidate.  When  he  has  prepared,  set, 
and  adjusted  each  machine  ready  for  use,  he  shall  lock  such 
machines  and  seal  them  with  a  special  seal.  He  shall  also  see 
tFaTlhe  sample  ballots  are  posted  in  some  conspicuous  place  in 
the  voting-place  outside  the  guard-rail.  Prior  to  the  day  of 
election  he  shall  carefully  instruct  the  election-officers  in  regard 
to  the  locking  and  unlocking  of  each  machine,  the  manner  of 
operating  it,  of  voting  thereby,  and  of  reading  and  recording  the 
votes  therefrom.  He  may  appoint  deputies  who  shall  be  expert 
mechanics  to  assist  him  in  the  performance  of  the  foregoing 


96 


ELECTION  LAWS. 


Voting-places, 
how  to  be 
equipped. 


Manner  of 
voting. 


duties,  not  exceeding  one  such  deputy  for  every  eight  machines, 
and  such  deputies  shall  be  paid  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  per  day 
for  each  day's  service,  from  the  town  treasury,  upon  vouchers 
approved  by  said  clerk.  Such  deputies  shall  be  citizens  of  the 
state,  but  need  not  be  voters  of  the  city  or  town  in  which  they 
are  to  serve,  and  before  entering  upon  their  duties  they  shall  be 
sworn  to  the  faithful  performance  thereof.  Said  clerk  shall 
cause  to  be  delivered  to  the  moderator  of  the  elective  meeting 
at  which  machines  are  to  be  used,  at  least  five  minutes  before 
the  opening  of  the  polls,  the  keys  of  such  machines  in  a  sealed 
envelope  upon  which  shall  be  written  or  printed  the  number  and 
location  of  the  voting-machines,  and  the  numbers  registered  on 
the  protective  counter,  if  any,  as  reported  to  the  clerk  when  the 
machines  were  set  up  and  adjusted.  Such  envelope  shall  be 
opened  by  the  moderator  in  the  presence  of  the  other  election- 
officers  '  and  watchers,  and  the  delivery  of  such  keys  shall  be 
equivalent  to  a  certificate  from  such  clerk  that  the  machines  are 
ready  for  use.  The  custody  of  such  machines  shall  remain  in 
said  clerk  up  to  the  time  of  the  delivery  of  the  keys  thereof  to 
the  moderator,  and  said  clerk  shall  be  held  fully  responsible 
for  any  damage  or  injury  to  any  machine  while  it  is  in  his 
custody,  an'd  for  failure  to  have  any  machine  ready  for  use  at  the 
time  of  the  opening  of  the  polls.  The  duties  imposed  by  this 
section  upon  town  clerks  shall  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and 
Pawtucket  be  perfornied  by  the  board  of  canvassers  and  regis- 
tration. 

Sec.  12.  The  voting-places  where  machines  are  to  be  used 
shall  be  equipped,  by  the  officers  now  required  by  law  to  furnish 
and  equip  such  voting-places,  with  a  guard-rail  having  one  place 
for  entrance  and  another  place  for  exit,  and  said  rail  shall  be  so 
placed  that  only  persons  admitted  inside  said  rail  can  approach 
within  five  feet  of  any  machine.  Any  person  desiring  to  vote 
shall  give  his  name  and,  if  requested  so  to  do,  his  residence  to 
one  of  the  supervisors,  who  shall  thereupon  announce  the  same 
in  a  loud  and  distinct  voice,  clear  and  audible,   and  if  such 


ELECTION   LAWS.  9f 

name  is  found  upon  the  voting-list  the  supervisor  in  charge  of 
the  voting-list  shall  repeat  the  said  name  in  the  same  manner 
and  the  voter  shall  be  allowed  to  enter  the  space  enclosed  by 
the  guard-rail,  and  his  name  shall  at  once  be  checked  upon  the 
supervisor's  list.  The  moderator  shall  thereupon  direct  said 
voter  as  to  the  machine  he  shall  use,  and  said  voter  shall  at  once 
enter  said  machine,  and  shall  vote  by  means  of  the  devices,  and 
having  voted  he  shall  leave  the  machine  and  proceed  to  the 
desk  of  the  clerk  near  the  exit  from  the  enclosure.  He  shall 
then  give  his  name  and,  if  requested  so  to  do,  his  residence  to 
the  clerk,  who  shall  check  his  name  upon  the  voting-list,  and  he 
shall  leave  the  enclosure  without  delay.  No  voter  shall  remain 
within  a  machine  longer  than  one  minute,  and  if  he  shall  refuse 
to  leave  it  after  the  lapse  of  one  minute  he  may  be  removed 
therefrom  by  order  of  the  moderator.  Besides  the  election- 
officers,  not  more  than  two  voters  in  excess  of  the  number  of 
machines  shall  be  allowed  within  said  enclosed  space  at  one  time. 
In  case  any  voter  after  entering  the  machine  shall  ask  for  further 
instructions  concerning  the  manner  of  voting,  the  moderator 
shall  appoint  two  supervisors,  who  shall  give  such  instruction  to 
him,  and  after  receiving  such  instruction  such  voter  shall  vote 
as  in  the  case  of  an  unassisted  voter.  Any  voter  who  declares 
to  the  moderator  that  on  account  of  blindness  or  other  physical 
disability  he  cannot  use  the  machine,  shall,  by  direction  of  the 
moderator,  receive  the  assistance  of  two  supervisors,  who  in  the 
presence  of  such  voter  and  in  the  presence  of  each  other  shall 
register  his  vote  upon  the  machine  for  the  candidates  of  his 
choice.  In  every  case  where  the  supervisors  are  directed  by  the 
moderator  to  assist  or  instruct  a  voter  one  of  such  supervisors 
shall  be  a  republican  and  the  other  a  democrat.  No  election 
officer  assisting  or  instructing  a  voter  shall  in  any  manner  re- 
quest, suggest,  or  seek  to  persuade  or  induce  any  such  voter  to 
vote  for  a  particular  candidate  or  for  or  against  any  particular 
question,  nor  shall  any  such  election-officer  give  any  informa- 
7 


98  ELECTION    LAWS. 

tion  whatsoever  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  such  voter 
shall  vote. 
Duty  of  Sec.   13.     The   moderator  upon  receipt   of  the  kevs   of   the 

moderator. 

machines  at  the  voting-place,  before  the  opening  of  the  polls 
shall  in  company  with  the  clerk,  supervisors,  and  party  watchers, 
and  before  the  opening  of  the  polls,  unlock  the  counter  com- 
partment of  each  machine  and  carefully  examine  each  counter 
and  satisfy  himself  that  no  vote  is  registered  thereon  for  any 
candidate  or  question.  He  shall  also  examine  the  face-plate  of 
each  machine  and  see  that  it  is  arranged  in  accordance  with  the 
sample  ballot,  and  shall  satisfy  himself,  so  far  as  he  may  do  so 
without  operating  any  machine,  that  each  machine  is  in  good 
order  and  ready  for  the  use  of  the  voters.  He  shall  thereupon 
close  and  lock  the  counter  compartment  of  each  machine  and 
unlock  each  machine  for  voting  and  declare  the  polls  open. 
During  the  time  that  the  polls  are  open,  and  until  the  machines 
are  finally  locked  and  sealed  and  the  keys  thereof  sealed  up  for 
transmission  to  the  town  clerk,  as  hereinafter  provided,  such 
machines  shall  remain  in  the  care  and  custody  of  the  moderator, 
who  shall  see  that  the  machine  and  the  devices  and  labels 
thereon  are  not  defaced  or  injured  by  any  voter  or  any  other 
person.  During  the  entire  time  in  which  the  polls  are  open  for 
voting  the  doors  of  the  counter  compartment  shall  be  kept 
closed  and  locked  and  the  counters  kept  concealed,  except  that, 
if  a  machine  shall  become  out  of  order,  the  moderator  may  have 
such  machine  opened  for  the  purpose  of  making  necessary 
repairs  thereon:  Provided,  however,  that  whenever  such  ma- 
chine is  opened  for  such  purpose  a  note  thereof  shall  be  made 
on  the  return-sheet  by  the  moderator  and  clerk,  stating  the 
time  when  said  machine  was  opened,  the  length  of  time  it  was 
opened,  and  the  probaible  trouble.  If  at  any  time  after  the 
polls  are  opened  the  voting  is  interrupted,  by  trouble  with  the 
machine,  for  more  than  five  minutes,  a  report  of  such  inter- 
ruption and  the  probable  cause  thereof  shall  be  made  by  the 
moderator  and  clerk  with  the  returns.     In  case  any  machine. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  99 

during  the  time  the  polls  are  opened,  becomes  injured  so  as  to 
render  it  inoperative,  in  whole  or  in  part,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  moderator  to  immediately  notify  the  town  clerk,  or,  if 
in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  the  board  of  can- 
vassers and  registration,  and  such  clerk  or  board  shall  at  once 
substitute  another  machine  for  the  injured  machine  and  at  the 
close  of  the  polls  the  records  of  both  machines  shall  be  taken. 
If  no  other  machine  can  be  procured  for  use  at  such  election, 
and  there  is  not  another  machine  at  the  voting-place  in  use, 
the  election  shall  continue  under  the  provisions  of  law  that 
would  apply  if  the  use  of  machines  had  not  been  authorized. 
All  repairs  upon  machines  in  use  at  any  voting-place  shall  be 
made  by  the  expert  mechanic  appointed  under  section  eleven  of 
this  chapter,  but  such  repairs  shall  not  be  made  to  any  machine 
that  will  necessitate  the  moving  or  changing  of  the  counters 
which  register  the  vote  cast  for  any  candidate  or  question.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  moderator  to  remain  near  the  entrance 
to  the  machines  while  the  polls  are  open,  to  regulate  the  ad- 
mission of  voters  thereto,  but  he  may  appoint  one  of  the  super- 
visors, from  time  to  time,  to  relieve  him  in  the  performance  of 
such  duty.  He  shall  also,  at  such  intervals  as  he  may  deem 
proper  and  necessary,  examine  the  face-plate  of  each  machine 
to  ascertain  whether  it  has  been  defaced  or  injured,  to  detect 
any  wrongdoer,  and  to  have  any  injury  repaired. 

Sec.  14.  Immediately  upon  the  close  of  the  polls  the  moder-  Duties  of  mod- 
ator  shall  lock  the  operating  levers  of  the  machine  against  vot-  closing  of  poUs. 
ing  and  shall  open  the  counter  compartment,  and  in  the  presence 
of  the  other  election  officers  and  watchers  shall  proceed  to  read 
off  in  a  clear  and  loud  voice  the  vote  for  each  candidate,  and 
upon  each  question  as  indicated  by  the  counters,  and  the  votes 
cast  for  persons  not  nominated.  While  the  moderator  is  so  an- 
nouncing the  vote,  the  clerk  shall  record  the  same  on  the  forms 
provided  for  in  section  nine  of  this  chapter.  Upon  the  blank  form 
provided  by  the  secretary  of  state  he  shall  record  in  ink  the 
votes  cast  for  each  candidate  and  person  and  for  and  against 


100  ELElJTIOll  LAWS. 

each  question  in  the  state  election^  and  upon  the  blanks  fur- 
nished by  the  town  clerk  he  shall  record  in  ink  the  votes  cast 
for  each  candidate  and  person  and  for  and  against  each  question 
in  the  town  election,  and  the  number  registered  on  the  protect- 
ive counter,  if  any;  and  such  records  shall  be  known,  respect- 
ively, as  state  election  returns  and  town  election  returns.  The 
moderator  and  one  supervisor  of  each  political  party  shall  each 
separately  compare  such  returns  with  the  counters  of  the 
machine,  and  if  they  are  found  to  agree,  such  moderator,  clerk, 
and  supervisor  shall  sign  such  returns.  The  clerk  shall  there- 
upon copy  such  returns  in  ink  in  the  record-book  of  the  elective 
meeting  now  provided  for  by  law,  and  the  moderator  shall  com- 
pare the  copy  made  in  said  book  with  the  counters  of  the 
machine,  and  if  they  are  found  to  agree,  he,  together  with  the 
clerk,  shall  sign  such  record  book.  At  least  two  separate  return- 
sheets  shall  be  made  out  for  each  machine  used  in  the  voting- 
place,  and  the  records  in  the  record-book  shall  show  the  votes 
registered  by  each  machine  for  each  candidate  and  person  and 
for  and  against  each  question,  and  the  number  registered  on  the 
protective  counter,  if  any.  The  machine  shall  then  be  com- 
pletely locked  by  the  moderator  so  that  the  devices  cannot  be 
worked  nor  the  counters  or  registers  changed,  and  the  keys  of  the 
machines  shall  be  enclosed  in  a  stout  envelope  and  be  directed  to 
the  town  clerk.  The  .record-book  shall  also  be  placed  in  a  paper 
wrapper  and  directed  to  the  town  clerk.  Such  record-book  and 
envelope  shall  then  be  sealed  with  two  or  more  adhesive  labels 
affixed  upon  such  envelope  and  package  so  that  they  cannot  be 
tampered  with,  and  such  labels  shall  be  signed  in  ink  by  the 
moderator  and  clerk.  Such  envelope  and  record^book  shall 
thereupon  he  delivered  to  a  police  officer  who  shall,  under  orders 
of  the  town  clerk,  or,  if  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Paw- 
tucket,  under  orders  of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration, 
remain  at  the  voting-place  until  such  clerk  or  board  resumes 
custody  of  the  machines.  Such  envelope  and  record^book  shall 
not  be  opened,  after  they  are  once  sealed  up  in  the  polling-place, 


I 


ELECTION   LAWS.  101 

by  any  person  whatsoever,  except  the  officer  to  whom  they  are 
addressed. 

The  state  election  returns  shall  be  enclosed  in  a  stout  envelope,  Election  re- 

^        turns. 

together  with  the  supervisors'  reports,  and  such  envelope  shall 
be  endorsed  with  a  statement  of  the  offices  and  questions  to  which 
the  returns  relate,  the  number  of  the  machines  from  which  such 
returns  were  taken,  the  voting-place  where  such  machines  were 
used,  and  the  date  of  the  election  to  which  such  returns  refer. 
The  town  election  returns  shall  be  enclosed  in  another  stout  enve- 
lope, together  with  the  supervisors'  reports,  and  such  envelope 
shall  be  endorsed  with  a  statement  of  the  offices  and  questions  to 
which  such  returns  relate,  the  number  of  the  machines  from 
which  such  returns  were  taken,  the  voting-place  where  such 
machines  were  used,  and  the  date  of  the  election  to  which  such 
returns  refer.  Each  envelope  shall  be  sealed  with  two  or  more 
adhesive  labels,  and  such  labels  shall  be  signed  in  ink  by  the 
moderator  and  clerk. 

The  provisions  of  law  relating  to  the  disposition  of  the  ballots 
cast  under  chapter  eleven,  after  they  have  been  sealed  up  in  open 
town  meeting,  shall  apply  in  all  respects  to  the  disposition  of  the 
state  election  returns  and  the  town  election  returns  after  they 
are  enclosed  in  envelopes  and  sealed  up  as  before  prescribed,  and 
said  returns  shall  be  of  the  same  force  and  effect  in  determining 
the  vote  cast  for  any  candidate  and  person,  or  for  and  against 
any  question,  as  would  ballots  cast  for  such  candidates,  persons, 
or  for  and  against  such  questions  under  the  provisions  of  chapter 
eleven,  or  any  other  provision  of  law  in  regard  to  elections. 

When  machines  are  used  at  town  elections  in  towns  not  divided 
into  voting-districts,  the  moderator,  after  announcing  the  votes 
registered  by  the  machines  for  the  candidates  for  town  officers, 
and  upon  questions  submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  town,  and 
signing  the  record  thereof  in  the  record-book,  shall  declare  the 
result  of  such  town  election,  and  certificates  shall  be  issued  to 
the  officers  declared  elected  as  is  now  required  by  law. 


M  i 


4..^     C  »>      t>    ^  <* 

*    '^  3  •  ^      '■' 


i»Cl  «  ♦ 


102 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Town  clerk  to 
resume    cus- 
tody of  ma- 
chines, when. 


Model  of  ma- 
chine may  be 
required  for  in- 
struction   of 
voters,   when. 


Sec.  15.  AVlien  the  machines  used  in  any  voting-place  have 
been  finally  locked  and  sealed  by  the  moderator  after  the  close 
of  the  polls,  the  town  clerk  shall  resume  custody  of  such  ma- 
chines, either  in  person  or  through  a  police  officer  delegated  for 
that  purpose,  and  shall  take  all  necessary  measures  to  prevent 
such .  machines  from  being  opened,  tampered  with,  injured,  or 
damaged,  or  the  counters  thereof  changed,  until  such  time  as 
said  clerk  is  notified  by  the  proper  officers  that  the  election  has 
in  all  respects  been  completed :  Provided,  however,  that  in  the 
cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  such  custody  shall  be  re- 
sumed by  the  boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  of  said  cities ; 
and  provided,  further,  that  such •  machines  may  be  opened,  un- 
locked, and  examined  at  any  time  by  order  of  the  state  returning- 
board  after  the  polls  are  closed,  and  such  board  may  issue  such 
order  whenever  it  deems  such  action  necessary  for  the  proper 
discharge  of  its  duty  in  counting,  tabulating,  and  declaring  the 
votes  cast  at  state  elections,  and  such  board  may,  in  its  discre- 
tion, issue  an  order  upon  the  petition  of  any  town  council,  board 
of  aldermen,  or  of  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration,  or 
any  candidate  at  the  said  election;  but  no  machine  shall  be 
opened,  upon  any  such  order  except  in  the  presence  of  a  member 
of  the  state  returning-board,  who  shall  see  that  such  machine  is 
securely  relocked  and  resealed  after  the  investigation  for  which 
it  was  opened  has  been  completed. 

Sec.  16.  Whenever  any  machines  purchased  or  leased  under 
sections  five  and  six  of  this  chapter  are  to  be  used  for  the  first 
time  in  any  voting-place,  the  person  supplying  such  machines 
may  be  required,  by  the  officer  or  body  purchasing  or  leasing 
them,  to  furnish  and  equip  each  of  such  voting-places  with  a 
model  for  the  instruction  of  voters.  Permission  may  also  be 
granted  to  any  person,  supplying  machines  under  the  provision 
of  this  chapter,  to  furnish  and  use  models  of  such  machines  for 
the  instruction  of  voters,  and  such  permission  shall  be  subject  to 
the  restriction  that  the  model  machines  shall  be  located  outside 
the  guard-rail  of  the  voting-place  in  a  position  where  their  opera- 


ELECTION    LAWS.  103 

tion  will  not  interfere  with  the  conduct  of  elections,  and  further 
that  such  machines  in  the  arrangement  of  their  face-plate  shall 
correspond  with  the  machine  or  machines  in  use  within  the 
guard-rail.  Labels  shall  he  furnished  for  such  model  machines 
free  of  charge  by  the  officers  required  to  provide  such  labels, 
under  section  nine  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  17.     Any  public  officer  upon  whom  a  duty  is  imposed  by  Penalty  for 
this  chapter  who  shall  willfully  neglect  to  perform  such  duty,  or  f®^*"  ,*?  ^^' 
who  shall  perform  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  hinder  the  objects  of 
this  chapter,  sliall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  one  year  or  fined 
not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  both. 

Sec.  18.     Any  person,  not  being  an  election-officer  or  person  Penalty  for 

tampering:  witki 

upon  whom  a  duty  is  imposed  by  this  chapter,  who,  while  any  machines, 
machine  is  being  made  ready  for  an  election,  or  is  in  use  during 
an  election,  shall  tamper  with  such  machine,  disarrange,  deface, 
injure,  or  impair  the  same  in  any  manner,  or  mutilate,  injure,  or 
destroy  or  disarrange  any  label  thereon,  or  to  be  placed  thereon, 
or  any  other  appliance  used  in  connection  with  such  machine, 
shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  one  year  or  fined  not  exceed- 
ing five  hundred  dollars,  or  both. 

Sec.  19.     Any  person  having  the  custody  of  a  machine  under  Penalty  for 

•^    ^  °  "^  tampering!  with 

this  chapter,  or  any  election-officer,  who,  with  intent  to  cause  or  machines  by 

permit  any  machine  to  fail  to  correctly  register  all  votes  cast  foJy°^  ^"^ 

thereby,  tampers  with,  injures,  or  disarranges  such  machine  in 

any  way,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  who  causes  or  consents  to  such 

machine  being  used  for  voting  at  any  election  with  knowledge 

of  the  fact  that  the  same  is  not  in  order  or  not  properly  set  and 

adjusted  so  that  it  will  correctly  register  all  votes  cast  thereby, 

or  who,  for  the  purpose  of  defrauding  or  deceiving  any  voter  or 

of  causing  it  to  be  doubtful  for  what  candidate  or  question  any 

vote  is  cast,  or  of  causing  it  to  appear  upon  said  machine  that 

votes  cast  for  one  candidate  or  question  were  cast  for  another 

candidate  or  question,  removes,  changes,  or  mutilates  any  label 

on  said  machine  or  any  part  thereof,  or  does  anything  to  defeat 

the  will  or  intention  of  a  voter  in  casting  a  lawful  vote,  shall  be 


104 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Penalty  for 
election  officer 
causing-  vote  to 
be  incorrectly 
recorded  or  re- 
turned. 


Penalty  for  cir- 
culating false 
or   misleading 
instructions. 


Penalty  for 
unauthorized 
person  having 
key  to  machine, 
and   for   elec- 
tion-officer fail- 
ing to  properly 
return  key. 


Provisions  of 
law   not   incon- 
sistent to  apply 
to  elections. 


imprisoned  not  exceeding  one  year  or  fined  not  exceeding  five 
hundred  dollars,  or  both. 

Sec.  20.  Any  election-officer  who  shall  at  the  close  of  the 
polls  purposely  cause  the  vote  registered  by  any  machine  to  be 
incorrectly  recorded  or  returned,  as  to  any  candidate,  person  or 
question,  or  who  shall  Imowingly  cause  to  be  made  or  signed  any 
false  statement,  certificate,  or  return  of  any  kind,  of  such  vote, 
or  who  shall  knowingly  consent  to  such  things,  or  any  of  them, 
being  done,  shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  one  year  or  fined 
not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  both.         * 

Sec.  21.  Wlioever,  with  intent  to  defraud  a  voter  of  his  vote, 
or  to  cause  a  voter  to  lose  his  vote,  shall  give  in  any  way,  or  shall 
print,  write,  or  circulate,  or  shall  cause  to  be  written,  printed,  or 
circulated,  any  improper,  false,  misleading,  or  incorrect  instruc- 
tions or  advices  or  suggestions  of  how  to  vote  by  the  machine, 
the  following  of  which  would  cause  any  voter  to  lose  his  votes  or 
would  cause  him  to  fail  to  register  or  record  the  same  on  the  ma- 
chine for  the  candidates  of  his  choice,  shall  be  imprisoned  not 
exceeding  one  year  or  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  22.  A^y  unauthorized  person  who  shall  make  a  dupli- 
cate of,  or  have  in  his  possession,  a  key  to  any  machine  used  at 
any  election,  or  any  election-officer  who  shall  keep  one  or  more 
of  the  keys  to  a  machine  and  shall  fail  or  refuse  to  return  them 
immediately  after  the  election  to  the  officer  charged  by  law  with 
the  duty  of  caring  for  such  keys,  and  any  mechanic  who  shall 
keep  one  or  more  of  said  keys  after  he  has  prepared  the  machines 
for  election  and  shall  refuse  to  turn  said  keys  over  to  the  officer 
charged  by  law  witli  the  care  of  said  keys,  and  any  officer 
charged  by  law  with  the  care  of  said  keys  who  shall  keep  such 
keys  and  refuse  to  deliver  them  over  to  his  successor  in  office,, 
shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  one  year  or  fined  not  exceed- 
ing five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  23.  All  provisions  of  law  in  relation  to  the  conduct  of 
elections  not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter 
shall  apply  to  all  elections  at  which  machines  are  used. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  105 


CHAPTER    14.  •  Pub.   Laws,  ch. 

826,  March  7, 
1901. 

Of  the  Election  of  General  Officers. 

Section  1.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  817,  Public  General  offl- 
Laws.)     The  governor,  lieutenant-governor,  secretary  of  state,  elected,  and 

terms  of  office. 

attorney-general,  and  general  treasurer  shall  be  known  as  gen- 
eral officers.  They  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  at  town,  represen- 
tative-district and  voting-district  meetings,  on  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  in  November  biennially,  commencing 
A.  D.  1912,  and  shall  severally  hold  their  offices  for  two  years 
from  the  first  Tuesday  of  January  next  succeeding  their  election 
and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  2.  The  ballots  given  in  at  any  election  for  general  Ballots  cast  for, 
officers,  after  having  been  counted  and  declared  in  open  meeting  to  the  stat?re- 
by  the  moderators  or  wardens  and  clerks,  shall  be  sealed  up  and 
certified  in  the  manner  provided  by  law  and  be  delivered  in  per- 
son, by  the  respective  clerks  of  the  meetings  where  they  were 
given  in,  to  the  state  returning-board  within  forty-eight  hours 
after  such  sealing  is  done:  Provided,  that  any  such  clerk  may 
appoint,  in  writing,  some  officer  of  the  town  or  city  where  he  re- 
sides to  so  deliver  such  ballots  in  his  stead  in  case  of  his  sick- 
ness or  absolute  inability  to  deliver  them  in  person. 

Sec.  3.     The  state  returning-board  shall  count  and  tabulate  state  retum- 

ing-board  to 

all  such  ballots  and  declare  the  result  thereof  in  the  manner  pro-  count  ballots 

and  issue  cer- 

vided  by  law,  and  shall  give  certificates  of  their  election  to  the  tificates. 
persons  shown  to  have  been  elected. 

Sec.  4.     When  the  governor-elect  shall  die,  remove  from  the  Lieutenant- 
state,  refuse  to  serve,  become  insane,  or  be  otherwise  incapaci-  act  as  governor, 

when. 

tated,  the  lieutenant-governor  elect  shall  be- qualified  as  gov- 
ernor at  the  beginning  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected. 
When  l)oth  the  governor  and  lieutenant-governor  elect,  or  either  General  officers 
the  lieutenant-governor,  secretary  of  state,  attorney-general,  or  a^^^^^jy^^®;^^ 
general  treasurer  elect,  are  so  incapacitated,  or  when  there  has 
been  a  failure  to  elect  anv  one  or  more  of  the  officers  mentioned 


106 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Acting   gov- 
ernor,   duties. 


Grand  com- 
mittee to  elect 
certain  general 
offloers,  when. 


Governor  shall 
appoint,  when. 


Majority  to 
elect  in   grand 
committee. 


in  this  section,  the  general  assembly  shall,  upon  its  organization, 
meet  in  grand  committee  and  elect  some  person  or  persons  to  fill 
the  office  or  offices,  as  the  case  may  be,  for  which  such  incapacity 
exists  or  as  to  which  such  failure  to  elect  occurred.  AATien  the 
general  assembly  shall  elect  any  of  said  officers  because  of  the 
failure  of  any  person  to  receive  a  plurality  of  the  votes  cast,  tb 
election  in  each  case  shall  be  made  from  the  persons  who  receive 
the  same  and  largest  number  of  votes. 

Sec.  5.  If  the  offices  of  governor  and  lieutenant-governor  be 
both  vacant,  by  reason  of  death  or  otherwise,  they  shall  be  filled 
by  the  general  assembly  in  grand  committee,  and  the  acting  gov- 
ernor shall,  if  the  general  assembly  is  not  then  in  session  call  a 
special  session  thereof,  for  that  purpose,  within  twenty  days  after 
both  of  said  offices  become  vacant,  if  a  stated  session  is  not  sooner 
to  occur. 

Sec.  6.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  secretary  of 
state,  attorney-genera],  or  general  treasurer,  from  any  cause,  the 
general  assembly  in  grand  committee  shall  elect  some  person  to 
fill  the  same :  Provided,  that  if  such  vacancy  occurs  when  the 
general  assembly  is  not  in  session  the  governor  shall  appoint 
some  person  to  fill  such  vacancy  until  a  successor  elected  by  the 
general  assembly  is  qualified  to  act. 

Sec.  7.  In  elections  by  the  general  assembly  in  grand  com- 
mittee the  person  receiving  a  majority  of  the  votes  shall  be 
elected.  Every  person  elected  by  the  general  assembly  to  fill 
a  vacancy,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  shall  hold 
his  office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  or  for  the  full  term,  as 
the  case  may  he,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 


le 

I 


?clS-  Y^^^S"-  •  CHAPTER  15. 

1230,   April  28, 
1905. 

21  R.  I.  520.      Qp  rpj^j;  Election  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the 

General  Assembly. 


Section  1.     (As  amended  by  Section  29,  Chapter  640,  and 
Section  1,  Chapter  819,  Public  Laws.)     Senators  and  represen- 


ELECTION   LAWS.  107 

tatives  in  the  general  assembly  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  in  each  r¥pr^Jfta^i4« 
town    and   city,    at   town,    representative-district,    and    voting-  iembiyrdate^ 
district  meetings,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  term^fTrnJe.** 
in  November  biennially,  commencing  A.  D.  1912,  and  shall  sev- 
erally hold  their  offices  of  two  years  from  the  first  Tuesday  in 
January  next  succeeding  their  election  and  until  their  successors 
are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  30,  Chapter  640,  Public  f^^'^^'l^  ™^^*^ 
Laws.)      All   town,   representative-district,   and   voting-district  Jfi^^^JJJce  i^i-e- 
meetings  held  in  any  town  or  city  for  the  election  of  senator  and  slnltore^Sld 
representatives  in  the  general  assembly,  or  of  any  one  or  more  hav^^bee?f^^^ 
of  them,  shall,  at  the  time  of  closing  the  polls  therein  prescribed 
by  law,  stand  adjourned  until  the  date  named  in  the  warrant 
provided  in  section  four  of  this  chapter  to  be  issued  in  case  of  no 
election,  or  until  the  state  returning-board  shall  have  notified 
the  mayor  or  president  of  the  town  council,  as  the  case  may  be, 
that  an  election  of  senator  and  representatives  in  the  general 
assembly  from  such  city  or  town  has  been  made. 

Sec.  3.     All  ballots  given  in  for  senators  and  representatives  o'  baHot^^S" 
in  the  general  assembly  at  any  election  therefor,  after  having  [^^  gen"?aTas°' 
been  counted  and  declared  in  open  meeting  by  the  moderators  ^^^^y- 
or  wardens  and  clerks,  shall  be  sealed  up  and  certified  in  the 
manner  provided  by  law  and  be  delivered  in  person,  by  the  re- 
spective clerks  of  the  meetings  where  they  were  given  in,  to  the 
state  returning-^board,  within  forty-eight  hours  after  such  seal- 
ing is  done :    Provided,  that  any  such  clerk  may  appoint  in  writ- 
ing some  officer  of  the  city  or  town  wherever  he  resides  to  so  de- 
liver such  ballots  in  his  stead  in  case  of  his  sickness  or  absolute 
inability  to  deliver  them  in  person. 

Sec.  4.     (As  amended  by  Section  31,  Chapter  640,  Public  Proceedings  in 

^  -^  7  1^  case   of   an    ad- 

Laws.)     If  it  shall  appear,  by  the  count  of  the  state  returning-  jJoTbl^au^r'cf 
board,  that  no  election  has  been  made  of  senator  or  any  one  or  ^^'^"''^  *°  *^^*=*- 
more  of  the  representatives  in  the  general  assembly,  in  any  city 
or  tcywn  at  any  election  held  for  such  officers,  said  returning- 
board  shall,  immediately  after  such  count,  notify  the  mayor  of 


JOS  ELECTION   LAWS. 

such  city  or  the  president  of  the  town  council  of  such  town,  of 
such  failure  to  elect,  and  if  the  failure  to  elect  be  of  senator,  the 
mayor  of  such  city  or  the  president  of  the  town  council  of  such  j 
town  shall,  immediately  after  such  notification,  issue  a  warrant 
to  the  moderator  of  the  town,  or  to  the  moderator  or  moderators 
of  the  representative-district  or  districts,  or  voting-district 
therein,  as  the  case  may  be ;  and  if  the  failure  to  elect  be  of  one 
or  more  representatives,  to  the  moderator  of  the  town,  the  mod- 
erator or  moderators  of  the  representative-district  or  districts 
or  voting-districts  therein,  as  the  case  may  be,  directing  the 
election  to  proceed,  on  the  tenth  day  from  the  date  of  such  war- 
rant, unless  such  day  be  a  legal  holiday,  in  which  case  it  shall 
direct  the  election  to  proceed  on  the  next  day  after  the  tenth 
day  not  a  legal  holiday,  for  the  officer  or  officers  for  which  there 
was  no  choice,  which  warrant  shall  be  served  on  the  day  of  its 
Issue  by  the  city  or  town  sergeant  or  constable :  Provided,  that 
in  Westerly  and  Hopkinton  there  shall  be  no  election  held  on 
Saturday,  and  if  said  tenth  day  shall  fall  on  Saturday,  the  elec- 
tion in  those  towns  shall  proceed  on  the  Monday  next  following, 
unless  such  Monday  be  a  legal  holiday,  in  which  case  the  election 
in  these  towns  shall  proceed  on  the  next  following  day  which  is 
not  a  legal  holiday. 
Of  new  eiec-  Sec.  5.     Whenever  any  person  elected  a  senator  or  represen- 

tions   to   mi   a  -^    -^  ^ 

vacancy.  tative  in  the  general  assembly  shall  at  any  time  between  the  day 

18  R.  I.  276. 

18  R.  L  818.  Qf  j^ig  election  an^  the  beginning  of  his  term  of  office  refuse  to 
serve,  and  so  decMre  to  the  clerk  of  the  city  or  town  for  which 
he  is  elected,  or  die,  become  insane,  remove  from  the  state,  or  be 
otherwise  incapacitated,  the  clerk  of  such  city  or  town  shall 
forthwith  issue  his  warrant  ordering  a  new  election  of  senator  or 
representative,  as  the  case  may  be,  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence within  forty  days,  and  in  other  cities  and  towns  within 
thirty  days,  from  the  occurrence  of  such  refusal  or  incapacity. 
Every  person  elected  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  section 
shall  hohl  his  office  for  the  full  term  or  for  the  remainder  of  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  109 

term,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  the  office  which  he  is  elected  to  fill, 
and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  6.  Whenever  from  any  cause  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in 
the  representation  of  any  city  or  town  in  the  general  assembly 
while  the  general  assembly  is  in  session,  the  clerk  of  such  city  or 
town  shall  forthwith  issue  his  warrant  ordering  an  election  to 
fill  such  vacancy  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Providence  within 
forty  days,  and  in  other  cities  and  towns  within  thirty  days  from 
the  occurrence  thereof:  Provided,  that  if  the  general  assembly 
has  passed  or  shall  thereafter  pass  any  resolution  of  final  ad- 
journment of  the  session  then  being  held  which  will  render  it 
impossible  for  a  person  elected  at  an  election  so  called  to  serve 
at  such  session,  such  election  shall  not  be  ordered,  or  if  ordered 
shall  not  be  held.  In  the  latter  case  such  clerk  shall  issue  his 
warrant  countermanding  such  election.  If  such  a  vacancy  shall 
occur  or  exist  at  any  time  when  the  general  assembly  is  not  in 
session  the  clerk  of  the  city  or  town  where  such  vacancy  exists  ®*™®  «ubject. 
shall,  if  ordered  by  the  board  of  aldermen  of  such  city  or  the 
town  council  of  slich  town,  issue  his  warrant  ordering  an  elec- 
tion to  be  held  to  fill  such  vacancy  as  hereinafter  provided. 
Every  person  elected  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  section 
shall  hold  his  office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  which  he  is 
elected  to  fill  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Si;c.  7.     At  the  adjourned  elections  provided  for  in  section  ^jyoSSeTS^ 
four  of  this  chapter,  the  official  ballot  shall  contain  the  names  of  Sd*by^lec^ 
the  candidates  for  the  offices  for  which  there  was  no  choice  at     "^  *" 
the  first  election,  and  shall  be  printed  and  supplied  by  the  secre- 
tary of  state:     Provided,  that  in  case  any  such  candidate  has 
died,  the  city  or  town  committee  of  the  party  to  which  he  be- 
longed may  substitute  the  name  of  some  other  person  as  a  can- 
didate and  such  name  shall  be  printed  upon  the  official  ballot, 
if  such  substitution  is  made  in  time  to  allow  it  to  be  so  printed. 
For  the  elections  provided  for  in  sections  five  and  six  of  this  Sf-plp^' 
chapter,  certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination-papers  may 
be  filed  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  of  such  elections. 


110 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


board. 


Penalty  for  gj^Q^  g^     Everv  mavor,  president  of  a  town  council,  or  town 

neglect    to   sea-  j  j       ^   i  7 

^Ixxllt  '^"^       clerk  who  shall  neglect  to  seasonably  issue  his  warrant  as  pro- 
vided in  this  chapter,  shall  be  fined  five  hundred  dollars. 
Penalty  for  fail-        g^c^  9^     If  the  clcrk  of  any  elective  meetins^  shall  nesrlect  or 

ure  to  deliver  ''  00 

returnln*^^-  ^^^^^  rcfusc  to  deliver  to  the  state  returning-board  the  packages  of 
ballots  as  provided  in  section  three  of  this  chapter,  or  to  author- 
ize in  writing  some  officer  as  provided  therein  to  make  such  de- 
livery, or  if  any  officer  so  authorized  shall  fail  to  make  such  de- 
livery within  the  tiniQ  specified  therefor,  the  person  so  neglecting 
or  refusing  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  10.     (Repealed    by    Section    32,    Chapter    6-10,    Public 
Laws.) 


Pub.  Laws,  ch. 
838,  March  28, 
1901. 


Three    districts 
for   election   of 
congressmen, 
and  who  may 
vote  therein. 


First   district, 
how  composed. 


CHAPTER  16. 

(Title  as  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1048,  Public  Laws.) 

Of  the  Election  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Section  1.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  775,  Public 
Laws.)  The  state  shall  be  divided  into  three  districts  for  the 
election  of  representatives  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States, 
to  be  called  respectively  the  first  congressional  district,  the  sec- 
ond congressional  district,  and  the  third  congressional  district, 
and  the  electors  residing  in  each  of  said  districts  who  are  quali- 
fied to  vote  for  general  officers  shall  be  entitled,  at  the  times  and 
places  and  in  the  manner  hereinafter  and  by  law  provided,  to 
elect  a  representative  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States  for 
the  district  in  which  they  reside. 

Sec.  2.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  775,  Public 
Laws.)  The  first  district  shall  consist  and  be  composed  of  the 
territory  embraced  within  the  following  cities,  towns,  and  repre- 
sentative-districts of  the  city  of  Providence,  to  wit:  Newport, 
Middletown,  Portsmouth,  Tiverton,  Little  Compton,  New  Shore- 
ham,  Jamestown,  Barrington,  Warrexi,  Bristol,  East  Providence, 


ELECTION    LAWS.  Ill 

and  the  first,  second,  third,  fourth,  fifteenth,  seventeenth,  eigh- 
teenth, twenty-first,  twenty-second,  twenty-third,  twenty-fourth, 
and  twenty-fifth  representative-districts  of  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence. 

The  second  district  shall  consist  and  be  composed  of  the  terri-  second  district, 
tory  embraced  within  the  following  cities,  towns,  and  representa- 
tive-districts of  the  city  of  Providence,  to  wit:  Warwick,  East 
Greenwich,  West  Greenwich,  Coventry,  Exeter,  North  Kings- 
town, South  Kingstown,  Hopkinton,  Richmond,  Charlestown, 
Westerly,  Xarragansett,  Foster,  Scituate,  Johnston,  Cranston, 
North  Providence,  and  the  seventh,  tenth,  eleventh,  twelfth, 
thirteenth,  fourteenth,  sixteenth,  nineteenth,  and  twentieth  rep- 
resentative-districts of  the  city  of  Providence. 

The  third  district  shall  consist  and  be  composed  of  the  terri-  Third  diBtrict. 
tory  embraced  within  the  following  cities,  towns,  and  represen- 
tative districts  of  the  city  of  Providence,  to  wit:  Burrillville, 
Glocester,  North  Smithfield,  Woonsocket,  Smithfield,  Cumber- 
land, Lincoln,  Central  Falls,  Pawtucket,  and  the  fifth,  sixth, 
eighth,  and  ninth  representative  districts  of  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence. 

Sec.  3.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1048,  Public  Elections,  when 
Laws.)  The  election  of  representatives  in  congress  shall  be 
holden  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November 
in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  on  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  every  sec- 
ond year  thereafter. 

The  election  of  a  senator  in  congress  shall  be  holden  on  the  Ekctiona  of 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  in  the  year  Sg«S/when 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixteen,  and  on  the  Tuesday 
next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  every  sixth  year 
thereafter  and  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in 
November  in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighteen, 
and  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November 
in  every  sixth  year  thereafter. 

Sec.  4.     (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1048,  Public 


holden. 


112 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Plurality  to 
elect. 


Ballots  cast  to 
be  delivered  to 
state  retum- 
ing-board. 


Duties  of  state 

returning- 

board. 


New    elections. 


Of  nomina- 
tions. 


In  case  of  va- 
cancy new  elec- 
tion- to  be 
ordered   by 
governor. 


Laws.)  In  all  elections  of  senators  and  representatives  in  con- 
gress the  voting  shall  be  by  ballot,  and  the  person  or  candidate 
receiving  the  largest  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected. 

Sec.  5.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1048,  Public 
Laws.)  The  ballots  given  in  at  any  election  for  senators  and 
representatives  in  congress,  after  having  been  counted  and  de- 
clared in  open  meeting  by  the  moderators  or  wardens  and  clerks, 
shall  be  sealed  up  and  certified  in  the  manner  provided  by  law 
and  be  delivered  in  person,  by  the  respective  clerks  of  the  meet- 
ings where  they  were  given  in,  to  the  state  returning-board 
within  forty-eight  hours  after  such  sealing  is  done:  Provided, 
that  any  such  clerk  may  appoint  in  writing  some  officer  of  the 
town  or  city  where  he  resides  to  deliver  said  ballots  in  his  stead 
in  case  of  his  sickness  or  absolute  inability  to  deliver  them  in 
person. 

Sec.  6.  The  state  returning-board  shall  count  and  tabulate 
all  such  ballots  aad  declare  the  result  thereof  in  the  manner 
provided  by  law,  and  shall  give  certificates  of  their  election  to 
the  persons  shown  to  have  been  elected. 

Sec.  7.  (As  amended  by  Section  5,  Chapter  1048,  Public 
Laws.)  In  case  no  person  shall  receive  a  plurality  of  the  votes 
cast  in  said  state  or  in  either  district  at  any  such  election,  a  new 
election  shall  be  held  in  said  state  or  in  such  district  on  the 
fourth  Tuesday  after  the  holding  of  the  election  at  which  there 
was  no  choice.  For  such  election,  any  new  certificates  of  nom- 
ination or  nomination-papers  shall  be  filed  ten  days  previous  to 
the  date  of  such  election. 

Sec.  8.  (As  amended  by  Section  6,  Chapter  1048,  Public 
Laws.)  Whenever  any  person  elected  a  senator  in  congress,  or 
a  representative  in  congress  from  either  district  shall  at  any 
time  between  the  day  of  his  election  and  the  beginning  of  his 
term  of  office  refuse  to  serve  and  so  declare  to  the  secretary  of 
state,  or  die,  become  insane,  remove  from  the  state,  or  be  other- 
wise incapacitated,  or  whenever  a  vacancy  shall  happen  in  the 
representation  of  this  state  in  congress  whether  as  contemplated 


ELKCTIOX    LAWS.  113 

in  the  second  section  of  the  first  article  of  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States,  or  article  seventeen  of  the  amendments  to  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  otherwise,  the  governor 
shall  forthwith  issue  his  writ  of  election  directed  to  the  several 
city  and  town  clerks,  ordering  a  new  election  of  senator  or  rep- 
resentative in  congress  to  be  held  in  the  state  or  in  such  district 
or  an  election  to  be  held  to  fill  such  vacancy,  as  the  circum- 
stances shall  require,  at  as  early  a  date,  to  be  stated  in  said  writ, 
as  will  admit  of  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  law  in  rela- 
tion to  such  elections.  No  elections  provided  for  by  this  section 
shall  be  held  on  Saturday. 


CHAPTER  17.  Pub.  LaM«,  ch. 

827,  March  12, 


Of   the   Election   of   Electors  of   President  and   Vice- 
President  OF  the  United  States. 


1901. 

11  R.  I.  688. 


Section  1.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1507,  Pub-  ^j"^"**^*!^ 
lie  Laws.)  The  people  of  this  state  qualified  by  law  to  vote  for  S^  YVe'* 
general  officers,  also  every  woman  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  who  has  had  her  residence  and 
home  in  this  state  for  two  years,  and  in  the  town  or  city  in 
which  she  may  offer  to  vote  six  months,  next  preceding  the  time 
of  her  voting,  and  whose  name  shall  be  registered  as  hereinafter 
provided  in  the  town  or  city  where  she  resides  on  or  before  the 
last  day  of  June  next  preceding  the  time  of  her  voting,  shall 
elect  by  ballot  so  many  electors  of  president  and  vice-president 
of  the  United  States  as  the  state  is  or  shall  be  entitled  to,  at 
town,  ward  and  district  meetings,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  Election  of, 

'  °  ^  -^  ,  when  to  be 

first  Monday  in  j^ovember,  in  every  fourth  year,  commencing  hoiden. 
A.  D.  1920,  and  the  several  candidates  having  a  plurality  of  the 
legal  votes  given  in  at  such  election  shall  be  electors:  Provided, 
hoiuever,  that  no  woman  citizen  of  foreign  birth  shall  be  entitled 
to  vote  unless  she  has  resided  in  the  United  States  five  years. 
Sec.  2.  The  ballots  given  in  at  such  election,  after  having 
8 


114 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Ballots,  how 
sealed   up,    cer- 
tified,   and   re- 
turned. 


Names   of    can- 
didates to  be 
numbered   upon 
ballots. 


Of  the  count  of 
said  ballots 


If  no  election, 
vacancy,   how 
filled. 


Electors  chosen 
where  to  meet 
and  vote. 


Vacancies  oc- 
curring after  an 
election,    to   be 
filled,  how. 


been  counted  and  declared  in  open  meeting  by  the  moderators 
or  wardens  and  clerks,  shall  be  sealed  up  and  certified  in  the 
manner  provided  by  law  and  be  delivered  in  person,  by  the  re- 
spective clerks  of  the  meetings  where  they  were  given  in,  to  the 
state  returning-board  within  forty-eight  hours  after  such  sealing 
is  done :  Provided,  that  any  such  clerk  may  appoint,  in  writing, 
some  officer  of  the  town  or  city  where  he  resides  to  deliver  said 
ballots  in  his  stead  in  case  of  his  sickness  or  absolute  inability 
to  deliver  them  in  person. 

Sec.  3.  The  names  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  electors  shall 
be  numbered  upon  the  ballots,  and  in  counting  the  ballots  cast 
for  them  the  places  numbered  shall  be  considered  separate 
places. 

Sec.  4.  The  state  returning-board  shall  count  and  tabulate 
all  such  ballots  and  declare  the  result  thereof  in  the  manner 
provided  by  law,  and  shall  give  certificates  of  their  election  to 
the  persons  shown  to  have  been  elected. 

Sec.  5.  If  such  count,  tabulation  and  declaration  shall  show 
that  there  has  been  no  election  of  any  one  or  more  of  the  elec- 
tors to  which  the  state  is  or  shall  be  entitled,  the  general  assem- 
bly at  its  session  commencing  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  January 
next  succeeding  shall  elect  so  many  electors  in  grand  committee 
as  may  be  necessary  to  complete  the  number  to  which  the  state 
is  or  shall  be  entitled,  and  the  secretary  of  state  shall  give  cer- 
tificates of  their  election  to  the  persons  so  elected. 

Sec.  6.  Electors  elected  pursuant  to  this  chapter  shall  meet 
in  the  state  house  in  the  city  of  Providence  on  the  second  Mon- 
day in  January  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred  nine  and  in  every 
fourth  year  thereafter,  and  there  vote  for  a  president  and  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the 
United  States. 

Sec.  7.  If  any  elector  elected  as  hereinhefore  provided  in 
this  chapter  shall  decline  his  office  or  from  any  cause  not  be 
present  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  and  at  the 
place  where  it  is  provided  by  law  that  such  electors  shall  meet 


ELECTION   LAWS.  115 

and  vote  for  a  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States, 
or  if  at  that  time  the  general  assembly  shall  not  have  elected  any 
elector  or  electors  required  to  be  elected  by  it  by  the  provisions 
of  section  five  of  this  chapter,  the  elector  or  electors  at  that 
time  elected  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  and 
present  at  such  time  and  place  shall  elect  such  number  of  elec- 
tors as  may  be  required  to  complete  the  number  of  electors  to 
which  the  state  is  or  at  that  time  shall  be  entitled,  and  shall  im- 
mediately, upon  the  same  day,  file  a  certificate  of  the  election  of 
the  electors  so  elected  by  him  or  them  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary of  state,  which  certificate  shall  also  state  the  reasons  for 
such  election. 

Sec.  8.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  and  the  secre-  Governor  and 

^  secretary   of 

tary  of  state  to  be  present  at  the  state  house  in  Providence,  on  state  to  be  pre- 

•^  ^  sent    at   state- 

'  the  day  of  the  meeting  of  said  electors,  to  make  and  furnish  to  meetLg°o?^ek2- 
the  electors  any  certificates  required  by  the  laws  of  the  United  *°"- 
States  to  be  forwarded  to  the  seat  of  government  with  the  votes 
of  said  electors  which  are  made  necessary  by  any  election  made 
pursuant"  to  the  provisions  of  section  seven  of  this  chapter. 
Sec.  9.     (As    added    by    Section    2,    Chapter    1507,    Public  Regarding 

,.,-,,  ,  registration   of 

Laws.)     The  registration  of  women  citizens  entitled  to  vote  un-  women  citizens 

^  °  qualified    to 

der  this  act,  and  the  preparation,  canvassing  and  correction  of  J^^^.j^^'' ,p^^^" 
the  voting  lists  thereof,  shall  be  had  in  the  same  manner  and  at  to*^- 
the  same  time  and  places,  and  under  the  same  liabilities  and 
penalties  as  is  provided  by  law  for  the  registration,  and  for  the 
preparation,  canvassing  and  correction  of  the  lists  of  voters, 
qualified  to  vote  for  general  officers:  Provided,  that  every 
woman  of  foreign  birth  so  registering,  who  shall  claim  citizen- 
ship through  some  other  person,  either  by  marriage  or  parentage, 
shall  state  at  the  time  of  her  registration,  when  and  where  such 
other  person  was  born,  and  if  such  other  person  was  naturalized, 
when,  where  and  by  what  court  such  other  person  was  natural- 
ized, and  she  shall  file  proof  of  such  naturalization  as  may  be 
necessary  to  establish  her  citizenship  with  the  town  clerk  or  the 
clerk  of  the  board  of  registration,  as  the  case  may  be,  at  least 


116 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Names  of 
women    voters 
to  be  arranged 
how,  on  lists  of 
voters. 


Special    ballot 
to  be  provided 
for  women 
voters. 


Special  ballot, 
form  of. 


Special  ballot 
to  be  prepared, 
furnished  and 
delivered,  how. 


General  pro- 
visions con- 
cerning elec- 
tions to  apply 
to  exercise  of 
elective  fran- 
chise by   wo- 
men. 


five  days  before  any  meeting  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  the 
town  or  city  in  which  she  claims  the  right  to  vote,  and  such 
proof  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  such  board  of  can- 
vassers; and  provided,  further,  that  in  preparing  the  lists  of 
voters  entitled  to  vote  at  any  election  of  electors  of  president 
and  vice-president  of  the  United  States^  the  names  of  all  women 
citizens  entitled  to  vote  thereat  shall  be  arranged  on  said  lists 
separate  and  apart  from  the  names  of  the  other  voters  entitled 
to  vote  at  such  election  under  a  heading,  "List  of  women  voters 
entitled  to  vote  for  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of 
the  United  States.'^ 

Sec.  10.  (As  added  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1507,  Public 
Laws.)  There  shall  be  provided  for  the  use  of  women  citi- 
zens entitled  to  vote  under  this  act  a  special  ballot  which  shall 
be  printed  on  paper  of  a  color  that  will  readily  distinguish  it. 
from  the  ballots  provided  by  the  secretary  of  state  for  the  use 
of  voters  entitled  to  vote  for  general  officers.  Such  special  bal- 
lots shall  contain  only  the  names  of  the  several  candidates  for 
electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States 
and  shall  be  endorsed  in  plain  black  type,  "Special  ballot  for 
electors  of  president  and  vice-president  only,"  but  in  all  other 
respects  said  special  ballot  shall  be  similar  in  form  and  arrange- 
ment and  the  instruction  and  information  printed  thereon,  to 
the  ballots  required  to  be  provided  by  the  secretary  of  state  un- 
der the  provisions  of  Chapter  11  of  the  General  Law^s.  Except 
as  herein  otherwise  provided,  the  laws  relating  to  the  prepara- 
tion, furnishing  and  delivery  of  the  ballots  required  to  be  pro- 
vided by  the  secretary  of  state  for  the  use  of  voters  qualified  to 
vote  for  general  officers,  shall  also  apply  to  the  preparation  and 
furnishing  of  the  special  ballot  herein  provided  for,  and  their 
delivery  to  the  election  officers  of  the  several  town  and  district 
meetings. 

Sec.  11.  (x\s  added  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1507,  Public 
Laws.)  Except  as  herein  otherwise  provided,  the  provisions 
of  Chapter  20  of  the  General  Laws,  entitled  "General  provisions 
concerning  elections,^^  and  the  provisions  of  all  other  laws  relat- 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


117 


iug  to  the  conduct  of  elective  meetings,  and  to  the  time  and 
place  of  voting  and  to  the  manner  and  methods  of  marking,  de- 
positing and  counting  the  ballots  provided  by  the  secretary  of 
state  for  the  use  of  voters  entitled  to  vote  for  general  officers, 
shall  also  apply  to  the  time  and  place  of  voting,  and  to  the  man- 
ner of  marking,  depositing  and  counting  the  special  ballots 
herein  provided  for  the  use  of  women  citizens,  and  to  the  exer- 
cise or  the  attempt  to  exercise  by  women  citizens  of  the  elective 
franchise  conferred  by  this  act. 

Sec.  12.     (As   added   by    Section    2,   Chapter   1507,    Public  Penalty  for 
Laws. )       Any    moderator,    warden,    clerk    or    supervisor    who  permitting  use 

T     -n    p         •   I  1    •      •  **'  other  than 

shall  turnish  a  woman  claiming  the  riffht  to  vote  under  the  pro-  ^p^^^*^  ^^"o* 

,    .  ^  r  by  women 

Visions  of  this  act  with  any  ballot  other  than  the  ballot  herein  ''°*^"' 
prescribed  for  her  use,  or  shall  permit  her  to  deposit  in  the  ballot 
box  at  any  elective  meeting  at  which  she  may  claim  the  right  to 
vote,  any  ballot  other  than  the  special  ballot  herein  prescribed 
for  her  use,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  fifty 
dollars  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars,  or  be  imprisoned 
for  not  more  than  three  months,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  im- 
jprisonment. 

CHAPTER  18.  Si^^S^2S^ 

1901. 

I  Of  Voting  Upon  Propositions  of  Amendment  of  the  Con- 
stitution, AND  Upon  Questions  Submitted  to  the  Elec- 
tors OF  THE  State. 

Section  1.     Whenever  any  proposition  of  amendment  of  the  of  voting  upon 
constitution  or  any  question  is  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  submitted  to 
state,  it  shall  be  voted  upon  by  ballot  at  the  time  provided  in 
the  act  submitting  the  same  at  town,  ward,  and  district  meet- 
ings. 

Sec.  2.     The  secretary  of  state,  in  preparing  such  proposed  of  voting  upon 
amendment  or  question  for  submission  to  the  electors,  shall,  if  sumbitted  to 

the  electors. 

candidates  for  office  are  to  be  voted  for  at  the  same  time,  print  fub.  Laws, 

'   ^  1229,  April  2«, 

mch  proposition  of  amendment  or  question  after  or  beneath  the  ^^^• 


ists  of  candidates  upon  the  official  ballot. 


118 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Ballots  cast 
upon  proposi- 
tions,  to   be 
sealed   up,    cer- 
tified and  de- 
livered to  state 
returning- 
board. 


State   return- 
ing-board  to 
count  the  bal- 
lots,  tabulate 
the  same,   and 
declare   the   re- 
sult. 


Sec.  3.  The  ballots  given  in  for  and  against  any  such  prop- 
osition of  amendment  or  question,,  after  having  been  counted 
and  declared  in  open  meeting  by  the  moderators  or  wardens  and 
clerks  of  such  meetings,  shall  be  sealed  up  and  certified  in  the 
manner  provided  by  law  and  be  delivered  in  person,  by  the  re- 
spective clerks  of  the  meetings  where  they  were  given  in,  to  the 
state  returning-board  within  forty-eight  hours  after  such  seal- 
ing is  done :  Provided,  that  any  such  clerk  may  appoint  in  writ- 
ing some  officer  of  the  town  or  city  where  he  resides  to  so  deliver 
such  ballots  in  his  stead  in  case  of  his  sickness  or  absolute  in- 
ability to  deliver  them  in  person. 

Sec.  4.  The  state  returning-board  shall  count  and  tabulate 
all  such  ballots  and  shall  declare  the  result  thereof  in  the  man- 
ner provided  by  law,  and  such  declaration  shall  be  a  sufficient 
notice  to  all  officers,  and  other  persons  interested,  of  the  adop- 
tion or  the  rejection  of  any  amendment  of  the  constitution  or  of 
the  manner  in  which  any  question  submitted  to  the  electors  of 
the  state  has  been  decided. 


Pub.   Laws,  ch. 
825,   March  6, 
1901. 

25  R.   I.   522. 


State  return- 
ing-board, how 
constituted. 


CHAPTER  19. 

Of  the  State  Returning-Board  and  Defining  its  Duties. 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  a  state  returning-board  consist- 
ing of  five  members.  At  the  January  session  of  the  general  as- 
sembly in  each  year,  the  governor,  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  senate,  shall  appoint  one  member  of  said  board  to  hold 
office  until  the  first  day  of  February  in  the  fifth  year  after  his 
appointment  to  succeed  the  member  of  said  board  whose  term 
will  next  expire.  Any  vacancy  which  may  occur  in  said  board 
when  the  senate  is  not  in  session  shall  be  filled  by  the  governor 
until  the  next  session  thereof,  when  he  shall,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  senate,  appoint  some  person  to  fill  such 
vacancy  for  the  remainder  of  the  term.  The  members  of  said 
board  shall  not  all  be  of  the  same  political  party.     Said  board 


ELECTION   LAWS.  119 

shall  elect  one  of  its  members  as  chairman  to  preside  at  its  meet- 
ings, and  in  his  absence  shall  elect  some  member  as  chairman 
pro  tern. 

Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1050,  Public  S^atSf* '"" 
Laws.)     The  ballots  cast  for  electors  of  president  and  vice-  ffseS^Tto 
president  of  the  United  States,  senators  and  representatives  in  st^ate^^tLn-"'' 
congress,  general  officers,  and  senators  and  representatives  in  the  pub.  La\^, 
general  assembly,  and  for  and  against  any  proposed  amendment  A^ii  20!*  iW 
of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  or  any  question  submitted  to  the 
electors  of  the  state,  shall  be  counted  and  tabulated  by  said 
board. 

Sec.  3.     (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1050,  Public  counting  of 

•^  ^  r  J  ballots,   when 

Laws.)     Said  board  shall  commence  the  counting  and  tabulating  ^  ^^°- 
of  such  ballots  within  twenty-four  hours  after  their  reception  or  1229',  aec.  14, 

-'  ^  April  26,  1906. 

the  reception  of  any  of  them,  and  shall  continue  and  complete 
the  same  with  all  reasonable  expedition. 

Sec.  4.     Said  board  shall  forthwith,  after  such  result  has  been  g^S^ed*** 
ascertained,  furnish  to  each  candidate  elected  a  certificate  of  ^*^^*^ 
his  election,  and  shall  deliver  to  the  secretary  of  state^  who  shall 
keep  the  same  on  file  in  his  office,  a  statement  of  the  number  of 
ballots  cast  in  each  voting-district,  ward,  town,  and  city  for 
each  candidate ;  the  total  number  cast  in  the  state  for  each  of  the 
candidates  for  electors  and  for  general  oflScers ;  the  total  number 
cast  in  each  congressional  district  for  each  candidate  for  repre- 
sentative in  congress ;  the  total  number  cast  in  each  city  or  town 
for  each  candidate  for  senator  and  representative  in  the  general  ^^Sen?  ti 
assembly;   the   number   of   votes   cast   in   each   voting-district,  fiied'irffflce  of 
ward,  town,  and  city  for  and  against  any  proposed  amendment  Sate.^'^^ 
of  the  constitution,  or  question  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  S;  ^!\^ 
state,  the  total  number  of  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  and  against     ^"  ^'  ^^^ 
any  such  proposed  amendment  or  question;  the  names  of  the 
respective  candidates  elected  and  the  offices  to  which  they  have 
been  respectively  elected;  whether  or  not  any  such  proposed 
amendment  has  been  adopted,  and  whether  or  not  any  such 
question   has   been   assented   to  by   the  electors   of   the   state. 


120 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Sessions  of  said 
board. 


Of  the  Bcnitiny 
of  the  count 
of  ballot*. 


In  counting 
ballots,  only- 
one  package  to 
be  unsealed  at 
one  time. 
Pub.   Laws, 
1229,  sec.  16, 
April  26,  1906. 


Such  certificates  and  statement  sliall  be  signed  by  said  board 
and  shall  be  final  and  conclusive  evidence  of  the  matters  in  them 
contained  and  of  the  title  of  the  persons  declared  elected  to  the 
offices  for  which  they  have  severally  received  certificates  of 
election. 

Sec.  5.  The  sessions  of  said  board  for  the  counting  and  tabu- 
lating provided  for  in  section  three  of  this  chapter  shall  be  public, 
but  no  notice  or  advertisement  thereof  need  be  given.  Such 
counting  and  tabulating  shall  be  done  within  a  railed  space  in 
the  room  in  which  such  counting  and  tabulating  takes  place,  and 
said  board  shall  admit  within  such  railed  space  the  candidate, 
or  at  least  one  representative  of  the  candidate,  for  whom  ballots 
are  at  the  time  being  counted,  who  may  scrutinize  the  count  in 
accordance  with  the  rules  which  may  be  adopted  by  said  board. 
When  the  counting  and  tabulating  of  the  votes  for  and  against 
any  proposed  amendment  of  the  constitution  or  for  and  against 
any  question  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state  is  taking 
place,  said  board  shall  admit  within  such  railed  space  at  least 
two  republicans  and  two  democrats,  with  like  privileges  as  pro- 
vided herein  for  candidates  and  their  representatives.  Such 
representatives  shall  be  authorized  in  writing  by  the  candidates 
whom  they  severally  represent,  and  each  of  such  republicans 
and  democrats  shall  be  authorized  in  writing  by  the  chairman  of 
the  state  central  committee  of  the  political  party  to  which  he 
belongs.  The  provisions  of  this  section  shall  not  be  construed 
to  prevent  said  board  from  admitting,  in  their  discretion,  other 
persons  within  said  railed  space  during  such  counting  and 
tabulating. 

Sec.  6.  At  the  sessions  of  said  board  for  counting  and  tabu- 
lating provided  for  by  this  chapter,  only  the  package  containing 
the  ballots  from  one  voting-district  shall  be  unsealed  at  one  time, 
and  the  counting,  tabulating,  and  resealing  thereof  provided  for 
in  section  eleven  of  this  chapter  shall  be  completed  before  the 
counting  and  tabulating  of  those  from  another  voting-district 
is  commenced.     In  case  it  becomes  necessary  for  said  board  to 


ELECTION    LAWS.        .  1^1 

take  a  recess  or  adjournment  during  the  counting  and  tabulating 
of  the  ballots  from  any  voting-district,  such  ballots  shall  be 
placed  in  a  package  and  sealed  by  affixing  to  such  package 
adhesive  labels  sufficient  in  number  to  prevent  the  abstraction 
of  any  ballots  from  or  the  adding  of  any  ballots  to  the  contents  of 
such  package,  and  at  least  two  members  of  said  board  shall  affix 
their  signatures  in  ink  to  each  of  said  labels.  If  both  of  the  said 
members  are  of  the  same  political  party,  said  board  shall  also 
allow  some  person  of  another  political  party  to  affix  his  signature 
in  ink  to  each  of  said  labels. 

Sec.   7.     The  sheriff  of  Providence  county  shall  assign  so  Deputy-«herifls 

to  be  in  attend- 

many  of  his  deputies  as  said  board  may  request  to  attend  upon  ance  at  meet- 
said  board  during  its  session,  to  preserve  order  thereat.  The  ^»''<^- 
orders  of  the  presiding  officer  of  said  board  at  such  meetings  shall 
be  obeyed  by  said  deputies,  and  they  shall  remove  from  the 
room  where  any  such  session  is  being  held  any  person,  not  a 
member  of  said  board,  designated  by  him.  Any  person  who  shall 
disturb  or  interfere  with  the  proceedings  of  any  such  session  shall 
be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  shall  be  fined  not  ex- 
ceeding three  hundred  dollars  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding 
three  months,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Sec.  8.     Said  board  shall,  immediately  after  completing  the  ^^^^*«  ^. 
counting  and  tabulating  of  tlie  ballots  cast  for  general  officers  eilLd^to^be 
and  senators  and  representatives  in  the  general  assembly  and  l^or.*""  ^^' 
declaring  the  result  thereof,  furnish  the  governor  a  certificate  of 
the  names  of  the  persons  who  have  been  elected  general  officers  ^^rT?f  geS?3' 
for  the  ensuing  year,  and  shall  also  furnish  to  the  secretary  of  ^S^{,^  S' 
state  a  certificate  of  the  names  of  the  persons  elected  as  senators  of  state, 
and   representatives   in   the   general   assembly.     Whenever   the  1229)  sec.  17, 
count  and  tabulation  of  said  board  shall  show  that  there  has  been 
a  failure  to  elect  a  senator  or  representative  or  any  of  them  in 
any  town  or  city,  said  board  shall  forthwith  certify  the  fact  to 
the  secretary  of  state,  specifying  which  of  such  officers  were  not 
elected. 


122 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


In  case  ballots 
are  lost  or  de- 
Btroyed  the  re- 
cord contained 
In,  record-books 
required  by  law 
to  be  kept, 
may  be  taken. 


Broken  pack- 
ages of  ballots. 


May  investigate 
allegations  con- 
tained  in 
supervisors' 
returns.    . 


Sec.  9.  In  case  the  ballots^,  or  any  of  them,  from  any  town, 
ward,  or  district  meeting  are  lost  or  destroyed,  said  board  may 
use  the  record  of  ballots  cast  at  such  meeting,  contained  in  the 
record-book  provided  by  law  to  be  kept  by  the  moderator  or 
warden  and  clerk  thereof,  in  the  same  manner  and  with  the 
same  effect  as  it  might  have  used  such  lost  or  destroyed  ballots, 
and  it  may  require  the  delivery  to  it  of  such  record-book,  for 
that  purpose,  by  the  officer  having  the  custody  thereof.  In  case 
any  package  containing  ballots  which  it  is  the  duty  of  said  board 
to  count  and  tabulate  is  delivered  to  it  with  any  of  the  seals 
thereof  broken,  or  in  condition  to  indicate  that  such  package  has 
been  opened  since  being  sealed  as  provided  by  law,  said  board,  if 
convinced  upon  investigation  that  such  package  does  not  contain 
all  the  ballots,  and  no  others,  cast,  at  the  meeting  where  it  was 
sealed,  for  the  class  of  officers,  propositions  or  questions  named 
,in  the  endorsement  upon  such  package,  may  so  use  such  record 
or  may  use  in  its  count  and  tabulation,  as  the  result  of  the  voting 
at  such  meeting,  such  number  of  votes  for  the  respective  can- 
didates or  for  and  against  the  propositions  or  questions  voted 
for  or  on  thereat  as  such  investigation  in  its  opinion  proves  to 
be  correct. 

Sec.  10.  In  case  the  return  made  to  the  said  board  by  the 
supervisors  of  election,  or  any  of  them,  of  any  town,  ward,  or 
district  meeting  shall  contain  any  statement  which  makes  it 
desirable  or  proper,  in  the  opinion  of  said  board,  to  investigate 
the  conduct  of  the  election  thereat,  said  board  may  investigate 
the  truth  of  the  allegations  contained  in  such  supervisors' 
returns,  and  of  all  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  holding 
of  such  election,  and  shall  use  in  their  count  and  tabulation,  as 
the  result  of  the  voting  at  such  meeting,  such  number  of  votes 
•  for  the  respective  candidates  and  for  and  against  the  proposi- 
tions or  questions  voted  for  or  on  thereat  as  such  investigation, 
in  their  opinion,  proves  to  be  correct. 

Sec.  11.  (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1050,  Public 
Laws.)     When  the  counting  and  tabulating  of  the  ballots  cast 


ELECTION   LAWS.  123 

at  any  one  voting-place  or  voting-district  provided  for  in  this  ^^^f  <^^- 
chapter   has  been  completed,   such  ballots,   together  with   the  lge7Ph£iou 
moderators'  or  wardens',  clerks'  and  supervisors'  returns  per-  IeS^*°up^m. 
taining  to  the  same,  shall  be  again  sealed  up  before  the  counting 
and  tabulating  of  those  from  another  voting-district  is  com- 
menced, and  said  board  shall  not  take  any  recess  or  adjourn- 
ment while  any  of  said  ballots  are  unsealed.     The  sealing  herein  A^^nner  of  seai- 

^  o  ing  up  packages 

provided  for  shall  be  done  by  affixing  to  the  packages  contain-  ^^  ballots, 
inff  said  ballots  adhesive  labels  sufficient  in  number  to  prevent  1229,  sec.  is, 

°  ^  April  26,   1905. 

the  abstraction  of  any  ballots  from  or  the  adding  of  any  ballots 
to  the  contents  of  such  packages,  and  the  presiding  officer  and 
secretary  of  said  board  shall  affix  their  signatures  in  ink  to 
each  of  said  labels.  Whenever  both  of  the  officers  whose  duty 
it  is  to  sign  such  labels  are  of  the  same  political  party,  they  shall 
allow  some  elector  of  another  political  party  to  affix  his  signature  Endorsement  of 

packages    so 

in  ink  to  all  of  such  labels.  Each  package  so  sealed  shall  be  sealed, 
endorsed  by  the  secretary  of  said  board  with  the  name  of  the 
town  or  city  and  the  number  of  the  ward  or  voting-district 
where,  and  the  date  of  the  election  at  which,  such  ballots  were 
given  in.  Thereafter  no  such  sealed  package  shall,  upon  any 
pretence  whatever,  be  re-opened  by  any  person  except  upon 
order  of  the  general  assembly;  but  shall  be  held  by  said  board 
subject  to  such  order  until  the  first  day  of  January  in  the  third 
year  after  such  ballots  were  cast,  when  they  may  be  destroyed. 

Sec.  12.     Said  board  shall  keep  separate  books  of  record  of  to  keep  eepa- 

^         ^  rate  books  of 

'the  ballots  cast  for  the  different  classes  of  officers  which  it  is  its  [e^ord  of  bal- 
lots cast. 

duty  to  count  and  tabluate,  that  is  to  say:  a  book  of  record  of 
ballots  cast  for  electors  of  president  and  vice-president;  a  book 
of  record  of  ballots  cast  for  representatives  in  congress;  a  book 
of  record  of  ballots  cast  for  general  officers ;  and  in  like  manner  a 
book  of  record  of  the  ballots  cast  for  each  class  of  officers  which 
may  by  law  hereafter  be  required  to  be  counted  and  tabulated 
by  said  board.  Each  of  said  books  respectively  shall  contain  a 
record  of  the  number  of  ballots  cast  in  each  voting-district  for 
each  candidate  according  to  the  counting  and  tabulating  of  said 


124 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


OflSce  and 
KSsionB. 


To  have  a  seaL 


Suppllci,  etc. 


May  employ  a 
secretary  and 
clerical   aarist- 
ance. 


board ;  the  number  cast  in  each  voting-district  for  each  candidate 
according  to  the  certificates  of  the  moderators  or  wardens  and 
clerks;  the  total  number  cast  for  each  candidate  in  eacn  ward, 
town,  and  city  according  to  such  counting  and  to  such  certifi- 
cates; the  total  number  cast  for  each  candidate  in  the  state  or 
congressional  district,  as  the  case  may  be,  according  to  such 
counting  and  to  such  certificates;  a  statement  of  which  candi- 
dates are  elected;  and  such  other  pertinent  facts  as  said  board 
may  deem  proper.  Said  board  shall  also  keep  a  book  of  record 
of  the  votes  cast  for  and  against  any  proposition  of  amendment 
of  the  constitution  and  a  book  of  record  of  the  votes  cast  for 
and  against  all  questions  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state, 
with  like  detail  as  provided  herein  in  relation  to  ballots  cast  for 
officers. 

Sec.  13.  Said  board  shall  have  an  office  in  the  state  house, 
and  its  sessions  for  counting  and  tabulating  shall  be  held  in  such 
office,  except  when,  in  the  opinion  of  said  board,  public  interest 
requires  that  they  be  held  in  some  more  commodious  room  in 
said  building. 

Sec.  14.  Said  board  shall  have  a  seal,  and  shall  cause  the 
same  to  be  affixed  to  all  certificates  and  statements  issued  by  it. 

Sec.  15.  Said  board  may  purchase  for  its  use  all  books, 
stationery,  office  fixtures,  counting-machines,  and  other  articles 
necessary  or  convenient  for  its  use  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
imposed  upon  it  by  law,  and  may  incur  all  expenses  incident 
thereto ;  and  the  state  auditor  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed 
to  draw  his  order  upon  the  general  treasurer  in  payment  there- 
for, and  for  the  salaries  and  clerical  assistance  provided  for  in 
this  chapter,  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise 
appropriated,  upon  receipt  of  vouchers  approved  by  said  board. 

Sec.  16.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1050,  Public 
Laws.)  Said  board  may  employ  a  secretary,  who  shall  be  paid 
a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  year  for  and  during  each 
calendar  year  in  which  an  election  of  general  officers  is  held 
and  during  every  other  calendar  year  such  secretary  shall  be 


ELECTION   LAWS.  125 

paid  in  compensation  for  his  services  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
dollars  for  each  day  of  actual  service  as  secretary  of  said  board, 
and  the  state  auditor  is  hereby  directed  to  draw  his  orders  upon 
the  general  treasurer  for  the  payment  of  such  per  diem  com- 
pensation out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  ohterwise 
appropriated,  upon  receipt  of  vouchers  therefor  approved  by 
a  majority  of  the  members  of  said  board.  The  board  may  em- 
ploy such  other  clerical  assistance  as  may  be  necessary  to  enable 
it  to  seasonably  complete  its  work  at  an  expense  of  not  exceeding 
eight  hundred  dollars  per  year  for  and  during  each  calendar 
year  in  which  an  election  of  general  officers  is  held,  and  of  not 
exceeding  two  hundred  dollars  per  year  for  every  other  calendar 
year. 

Sec.  17.  (As  amended  by  Section  5,  Chapter  1050,  Public  5^^^"^*^°" 
Laws.)  The  members  of  said  board  shall  each  receive  a  salary 
of  five  hundred  dollars  per  year  for  and  during  each  calendar 
year  in  which  an  election  of  general  officers  is  held,  and  during 
every  other  calendar  year  said  members  shall  each  be  paid  in 
compensation,  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars  for  each  day  of 
actual  service  as  members  of  said  board;  and  the  state  auditor 
is  hereby  directed  to  draw  his  orders  upon  the  general  treasurer 
for  the  payment  of  such  per  diem  compensation  to  said  members, 
out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated, 
upon  receipt  of  vouchers  therefor  approved  by  a  majority  of  the 
members  of  said  board. 

Sec.  18.  The  members,  secretary,  and  assistants  of  said  ^  faitSfJ^- 
board  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  and  impartial  performance  dutTe^""^  °* 
of  their  duties,  and  any  such  member,  secretary,  or  assistant 
who  shall  willfully  neglect  to  perform  the  duties  by  this  chapter 
devolved  upon  him  at  the  time  herein  provided,  or  who  shall 
make  any  fraudulent  count,  tabulation,  certificate,  or  statement, 
or  in  any  way  willfully  so  perform  his  duties  as  to  defeat  the 
obtaining  of  a  correct  count  and  tabulation  of  the  ballots  com- 
mitted to  said  board,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  three  thousand 


126 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


May  administer 
oaths,  summon 
witnesses,  and 
compel  produc- 
tion of  papers, 
books,    etc. 


Majority  of 
board  may  act 
lawfully. 


dollars  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  three  years,  or  both,  in  the 
discretion  of  the  court. 

Sec.  19.  The  members  of  said  board  are  hereby  severally 
authorized  to  administer  oaths,  and  said  board,  in  all  cases  of 
every  nature  pending  before  it,  is  hereby  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  summon  witnesses  by  subpoena  signed  by  the  secre- 
tary of  said  board  and  to  compel  such  witnesses  to  attend  and 
testify  in  the  same  manner  as  witnesses  are  compelled  to  appear 
and  testify  in  any  court,  and  said  board  is  authorized  to  compel 
the  production  of  all  papers,  books,  documents,  records,  cer- 
tificates, or  other  legal  evidence  that  may  be  necessary  or  proper 
for  the  determination  and  decision  of  any  question  or  the  dis- 
charge of  any  duty  required  by  law  of  said  board,  by  issuing  a 
subpoena  duces  tecum  signed  by  its  secretary;  and  every  person 
disobeying' any  such  writ  shall  be  considered  as  in  contempt, 
and  said  board  may  punish  any  contempt  of  its  authority  in 
like  manner  as  contempt  may  be  punished  by  any  court.  An^^ 
person  who  shall  willfully  swear  falsely  in  any  proceeding,  mat- 
ter, or  hearing  before  said  board  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  the 
crime  of  perjury. 

Sec.  20.  Wherever  in  this  chapter  it  is  provided  that  any 
act  shall  be  done  by  said  board,  it  may  be  lawfully  done  by  a 
majority  thereof. 


<3en.   Laws, 
1896,  ch.  14. 


CHAPTER  20. 


General  Provisions  Concerning  Elections. 


Voters  are  ex- 
empted from 
arrest,   when. 
2  R.  I.  76 


Section  1.  All  persons  entitled  to  vote  shall  be  protected 
from  arrest  in  civil  cases,  on  the  days  of  election  for  city  or 
town  officers,  and  for  state  officers,  representatives  in  congress, 
and  electors  of  president  and  ^dce-president  of  the  United 
States ;  and  on  the  day  preceding  and  day  following  such  election. 

Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  33,  Chapter  640,  Public 


ELECTION   LAWS.  121 

Laws.)  Every  person  who  in  any  election  shall  fraudulently  frluduknu' 
vote  or  attempt  to  vote,  not  being  qualified,  notwithstanding  [empgn"'' t^*" 
his  name  may  be  on  the  voting-list  at  the  polling-place  where  he  ''°*®- 
shall  vote  or  atempt  to  vote;  or  who  shall  vote  or  attempt  to 
vote  in  the  name  of  some  other  person,  whether  such  name  is 
that  of  a  person  living  or  dead,  or  of  a  fictitious  person ;  or  having 
voted  in  one  town,  ward,  representative-district,  or  voting- 
district,  whether  his  vote  in  such  case  was  legal  or  not,  shall 
vote  or  attempt  to  vote  in  the  same  or  in  another  town,  ward, 
representative-district,  or  voting-district,  or  who  shall  fraudu- 
lently vote  or  attempt  to  vote  in  a  town,  ward,  representative- 
district,  or  voting-district  other  than  in  a  town,  ward,  repre- 
sentative-district, or  voting-district  wherein  he  has  his  resi- 
dence and  home  at  the  time  of  his  voting  or  attempting  to 
vote,  or  who  shall  aid,  counsel,  or  procure  any  other  person 
to  so  vote  or  attempt  to  vote,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of 
not  less  than  five  hundred  dollars  nor  more  than  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  not  less  than  six  months 
nor  more  than  two  years,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprison- 
ment in  the  discretion  of  the  court,  and  no  person  after  con- 
viction of  such  offence  shall  be  permitted  to  vote  in  any  elec- 
tion or  upon  any  proposition  pending  before  the  people,  or 
to  hold  any  public  office.  Voting,  for  the  purposes  of  this 
chapter  shall  consist  in  the  depositing  or  offering  for  deposit, 
a  ballot,  whether  such  ballot  has  been  marked  or  not;  except  in. 
cases  where  voting-machines  are  used,  and  then  shall  consist 
in  entering  the  booth  of  a  voting-machine  or  recording  or  offer- 
ing to  record  a  vote. 

Sec.  3.     Every  person  who  shall  directly  or  indirectly  give,  ^r^^*^ '7i„. 
or  offer,  or  agree  to  give  to  any  elector  or  to  any  person  for  the  y^l^^^ 
benefit  of  any  elector,  any  sum  of  money  or  other  valuable  P"^-  Laws, 
consideration  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  such  elector  to  give  ^^• 
in  or  withhold  his  vote  at  any  election  in  this  state,  or  by  way 
of  reward  for  having  voted  or  witliheld  his  vote,  or  who  shall 
use  any  threat  or  employ  any  means  of  intimidation  for  the 


128 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Limitation  of 
proeecutiona; 
complainant, 
how   paid. 


Supreme   court 

may  issue  writ 

of  mandamus, 

when. 

25  R.   I.   522, 


purpose  of  influencing  such  elector  to  vote  or  withhold  his  vote 
for  or  against  any  candidate  or  candidates  or  proposition 
pending  at  such  election,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less 
than  five  hundred  dollars  nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars, 
or  by  imprisonment  of  not  less  than  six  months  nor  more  than 
two  years,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment  in  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  court,  and  no  person  after  conviction  of  such 
offence  shall  be  permitted  to  vote  in  any  election  or  upon  any 
proposition  pending  before  the  people,  or  to  hold  any  public 
office ;  and  no  evidence  given  by  any  witness  testifying  upon  the 
trial  of  any  charge  of  bribery  shall  be  used  against  the  person 
giving  such  evidence. 

Sec.  4.  All  prosecutions  for  offences  against  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter  shall  be  commenced  within  one  year  after  the 
same  shall  have  been  committed,  and  not  afterwards.  And 
upon  the  presentation  of  a  certificate  of  the  clerk  of  any  court 
of  the  final  conviction  in  such  court  of  any  person  under  the 
provisions  of  this  chapter,  the  state  auditor  is  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  draw  his  order  on  the  general  treasurer  for  the 
sum  of  fifty  dollars,  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  person  com- 
plainant in  such  prosecution. 

Sec.  5,  AAHienever  any  person  upon  whom  is  imposed  any 
duty  connected  with  the  calling,  warning  or  conducting  of  any 
town,  ward,  or  district  meeting,  or  with  the  canvassing  of  the 
lists  of  voters  for  use  at  such  meetings,  or  with  the  counting  of 
the  votes  cast  at  the  same,  or  the  declaring  of  the  result  of  such 
votes,  shall  fail,  neglect  or  refuse  to  perform  such  duty  within 
the  time  specified  by  law  for  the  performance  of  the  same,  the 
supreme  court  shall  forthwith,  upon  the  petition  of  any  citizen 
of  the  city  or  town  where  such  failure,  neglect  or  refusal  oc- 
curred, issue  its  writ  of  mandamus  ordering  the  person  so  failing, 
neglecting  or  refusing,  to  perform  the  duties  in  question  within 
twenty-four  hours  from  the  time  of  the  issuance  of  said  writ, 
and  if  such  failure,  neglect,  or  refusal  shall  continue  beyond 
the  twenty-four  hours  specified  in  said  writ,  said  court  shall 


ELECTION   LAWS.  129 

immediately  appoint  some  suitable  person  to  at  once  perform 
said  duties,  and  the  person  so  refusing  to  obey  said  writ  of 
mandamus  shall,  in  addition  to  the  penalties  prescribed  by  law  gS^^J, 'obe?*" 
for  such  failure,  neglect,  or  refusal  to  perfom  his  said  duties,  be  *^®  *^^^' 
liable  to  such  further  penalties  for  contempt  of  court  as  said 
court  may  impose  for  failure  to  obey  said  writ. 

Sec.  6.     The  person  appointed  by  said  court,  as  aforesaid,  pe^^ap-**^^' 
shall  proceed  immediately  to  perform  the  duties  devolved  upon  ^^f  ^^  *^* 
him  by  said  court,  and  the  acts  done  by  him  in  pursuance  of  ^  ^-  ^-  ^^ 
such  appointment  shall  be  as  effectual  and  valid  in  all  respects 
as  if  the  same  had  been  done  and  performed  by  the  person  so 
failing,  neglecting  or  refusing,  at  the  time  and  in  the  manner 
provided  by  law. 

Sec.  7.     The  person  so  appointed  by  said  court,  as  aforesaid,  Jnofflcer^?the 
shall  be  deemed  to  be  an  officer  of  said  court  and  shall  have  full  S-^hiLdSg*^ 
and  free  access  to  all  records  and  papers  necessary  to  enable  him  ^R^*\°°'g28. 
to  perform  the  duties  devolved  upon  him  by  said. court,  and  any 
person  interfering  with  or  in  any  way  hindering  his  discharge  of 
said  duties  shall  be  liable  to  such  penalties  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  said  court  for  contempt,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sheriffs 
of  the  several  counties  and  their  deputies  to  see  that  the  pro- 
visions  of   this   chapter   are   enforced   within   their   respective 
counties. 

Sec.  8.     Wherever  the  word  "ballots"  or  the  word  "  votes  ^'  words  "W- 

lotB"   and 

lis  used,  it  shall  be  construed  to  include  the  evidence  of  the  '!jotf»"  «>d- 

'  Btrued. 

intent  of  the  electors  as  shown  by  the  tally-sheets  or  records 
made  upon  paper  by  any  voting-machine  used  in  voting  in  any 
election  or  upon  any  proposition  of  amendment  or  question 
submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state. 


130 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


EXTRACT  FROM  TITLE  IV. 
OF  LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS  AND  OF  STATUTES. 


XJen.  Laws, 
1896,  ch.  19. 


Senate,    how 
constituted. 


House,    how 
constituted. 


Towns  entitled 
to  one  repre- 
sentative each. 


City  of  Provi- 
dence  to   have 
twenty-five 
representa- 
tives. 


Remaining 
fifty-three  rep- 
resentatives 
distributed    on 
certain  ratio. 


CHAPTER  25. 

(As  amended  by  Section  34,  Chapter  640,  Public  Laws.) 

Op  the  Constitution  and  Organization  of  the  General 

Assembly. 

Section  1.  The  senate  shall  consist  of  the  lieutenant- 
governor  and  of  one  senator  from  each  city  and  town  in  the 
state. 

Sec.  2.  The  house  of  representatives  shall  consist  of  one 
hundred  members. 

Sec.  3.  Each  of  the  following  named  towns,  no  one  of  which 
has  one  one-hundredth  of  the  population  of  the  state,  shall  elect 
one  representative,  namely :  the  towns  of  Barrington,-  Charles- 
town,  East  Greenwich,  Exeter,  Foster,  Glocester,  Jamestown, 
Hopkinton,  Little  Compton,  Middletown,  Narragansett,  New 
Shoreham,  North  Kingstown,  North  Providence,  North  Smith- 
field,  Portsmouth,  Richmond,  Scituate,  Smithfield,  South 
Kingstown,  Tiverton,  and  West  Greenwich. 

Sec.  4.  The  city  of  Providence,  which  has  more  than  one- 
fourth  the  population  of  the  state  and  accordingly  is  limited 
by  the  constitution  to  no  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  whole 
number  of  the  members,  shall  elect  twenty-five  representatives, 
that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  the  dis- 
tricts into  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

Sec.  5.  The  remaining  fifty-three  members  of  the  house  of 
representatives  are  divided  among  the  remaining  cities  and 
towns  of  the  state,  upon  the  basis  of  the  papulation  of  the  same 
and  according  to  the  following  ratio  of  their  population : — one 
representative  for  every  five  thousand  and  thirty-two  inhabi- 
tants of  each  of  said  cities  and  towns,  and  one  additional  repre- 


I 


ELECTION    LAWS.  131 

sentative  for  every  fraction  of  the  population  of  each  of  them 
exceeding  one-half  the  ratio  aforesaid,  namely:— 

From  the  city  of  Pawtucket  there  shall  be  elected  ten  repre-  Pawtucket  to 

,     ,•  ,,      ,    .  ^  have    ten    rep- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  resentatives. 
the  districts  into  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From   the   city   of  Woonsocket  there  shall  be  elected  eight  woonsocket  to 

;     J-  ,1      ,     •  ,  have  eight  rep- 

representatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  resentatives. 
each  of  the  districts  into  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  city  of  Newport  there  shall  be  elected  five  repre-  Newport  to 

±   ±-  ±^     j^    •  ,,.,,,,  have  five  rep- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  resentatives. 
the  districts  in  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  town  of  Warwick  there  shall  be  elected  five  repre-  Warwick  to 

,,.,,,.  have  five  rep- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  resentatives. 
the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From   the  city  of   Central  Falls  there  shall  be  elected  five  central  Fails 

,..,,,  to  have  five 

representatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  representatives, 
each  of  the  districts  into  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  city  of  Cranston  there  shall  be  elected  four  repre-  Cranston  to 

^  have  four  rep- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  resentatives. 
the  districts  into  which  said  city  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  town  of  East  Providence  there  shall  be  elected  three  East  Provi- 
dence to  have 
representatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  JJj?^  represen- 

each  of  the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From   the   town   of   Cumberland   there   shall  be   elected  two  Cumberland  to 

have  two  repre- 

representatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  sentatives. 
each  of  the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  town  of  Lincoln  there  shall  be  elected  two  repre-  Lincoln  to 

^  have   two   rep- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  resentatives. 
the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  town  of  Westerly  there  shall  be  elected  two  repre-  westerly  to 

■^  ^  have  two  repre- 

fsentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  sentatives. 
ithe  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

From  the  town  of  Bristol  there  shall  be  elected  two  repre-  Bristol  to  have 

two  representa- 

sentatives,  that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of  t^^^- 
the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 


133 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Burrillville  to 
have  two  repre- 
Bentatives. 


Coventry, 
Johnston, 
and   Warren   to 
have  one  rep- 
resentative 
each. 


From  the  town  of  Burrillville  there  shall  be  elected  two  repre- 
sentatives, that  is,  one  representative  shall  be  elected  by  each  of 
the  districts  into  which  said  town  is  hereinafter  divided. 

The  towns  of  Coventry,  Johnston,  and  Warren  shall  each 
elect  one  representative. 

Sec.  6.  —  PEOVIDENCE. 


Providence; 
First    District. 


Providence; 
Second  Dis- 
trict. 


The  city  of  Providence  is  hereby  divided  into  twenty-five 
representative-districts,  bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  center  of  the  Providence  river  in  the  line  of  James  street, 
extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  James  street  to  Benefit 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Benefit  street  to 
John  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  John  street  to 
•Governor  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Governor  street 

to  Fremont  street ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Fremont  street 
and  the  line  of  Fremont  street  extended  to  the  city  line  in  the 
Seekonk  river ;  southwesterly  and  westerly  on  said  line  to  Provi- 
dence harbor,  and  through  Providence  harbor  to  a  point  in  the 
line  of  Henderson  street  extended;  westerly  through  Providence 
harbor  to  the  center  line  of  Providence  river;  northwesterly 
along  the  center  of  Providence  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  center  of  the  northerly  line  of  Bumside  bridge,  extending 
thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  northeasterly  comer  of  Exchange 
bridge ;  thence  northerly  in  a  straight  line  through  Canal  street 
to  Friend  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Friend  street  to 
North  Main  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  North  Main 
street  to  Waterman  street ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Water- 
man street  to  Fones  alley;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Fones 
alley  to  Brown  street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Brown 
street  to  Angell  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Angell 
street  and  the  line  of  Angell  street  to  the  city  line  in  the  Seekonk 


ELECTION   LAWS.  183 

river,  southwesterly  on  said  line  to  the  line  of  Fremont  street; 
westerly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Fremont  street 
to  Governor  street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Governor 
street  to  John  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of  John  street 
to  Benefit  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Benefit 
street  to  James  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  James 
street  to  the  center  of  the  Providence  river;  thence  northwest- 
erly following  the  center  of  Providence  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(3)  The  Third  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  al^  Providence; 

,         .  TWrd  District. 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  oii 
the  Providence  and  Pawtucket  boundary  line  where  it  is  crossed 
by  the  Moshassuck  river,  extending  easterly  on  said  line  to  the 
city  line  in  the  Seekonk  river;  southerly  on  said  line  to  the 
line  of  Angell  street;  westerly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the 
center  of  Angell  street  to  Hope  street;  through  the  center  of 
Hope  street  in  a  general  northerly  direction  to  Mount  Hope 
avenue;  westerly;  through  the  center  of  Mount  Hope  avenue  to 
Ivy  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Ivy  street  to 
Locust  street ;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Locust  street 
to  Camp  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Camp  street 
to  Duncan  avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Duncan 
avenue  to  North  Main  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
North  Main  street  to  Pettis  street;  we&terly  through  the  center 
of  Pettis  street  to  the  Moshassuck  river ;  and  through  the  center 
of  the  Moshassuck  river  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  Providenoe; 

Fourth  Dia- 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  at  trict. 
the  interesection  of  North  Main  street  and  Duncan  avenue, 
extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  Duncan  avenue  to 
Camp  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Camp  street 
to  Locust  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Locust 
street  to  Ivy  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Ivy 
street  to  Mount  Hope  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of 


134 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Providence; 
Fifth    District. 


Providence ; 
Sixth   District. 


Providence; 
Seventh  Dis- 
trict. 


Mount  Hope  avenue  to  Hope  street;  southerly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Hope  street  to  Angell  street;  westerly  through  the  center 
of  Angell  street  to  Brown  street;  southerly  through  the  center 
of  Brown  street  to  Fones  alley;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Tones  alley  to  Waterman  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Waterman  street  to  Benefit  street;  northerly  through  the  center 
of  Benefit  street  to  North  Main  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  North  Main  street  to  tlie  place  of  beginning. 

(5)  The  Fifth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  that 
part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  the 
Providence  and  North  Providence  boundary  line  where  it  is 
crossed  by  Charles  street^  extending  in  a  general  easterly  direc- 
tion on  said  line  and  the  Providence  and  Pawtucket  boundary 
line  to  the  Moshassuck  river;  southerly  through  the  center  of  the 
Moshassuck  river  to  Pettis  street ;  easterly  through  the  center  of 
Pettis  street  to  North  Main  street ;  southerly  through  the  center 
of  North  Main  street  to  Stevens  street;  westerly  through  the 
center  of  Stevens  street  to  Randall  square;  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Randall  square  to  Charles  street;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Charles  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(6)  The  Sixth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on 
the  Providence-North  Providence  boundary  line  where  it  is 
crossed  by  Admiral  street,  extending  northeasterly  and  easterly 
on  said  line  to  Charles  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Charles  street  to  Admiral  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Admiral  street  to  Fillmore  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Fillmore  street  to  Douglas  avenue;  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Douglas  avenue  to  Admiral  street;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Admiral  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(7)  The  Seventh  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  at 
the  intersection  of  Admiral  street  and  Fillmore  street,  extending 


ELECTION   LAWS.  136 

easterly  through  the  center  of  Admiral  street  to  Charles  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Charles  street  to  Eandall 
square;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Randall  square  to 
Stevens  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Stevens  street  to 
North  Main  street ;  southerly  through  the  center  of  North  Main 
street  to  Benefit  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Benefit 
street  to  Star  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Star  street 
to  North  Main  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  North 
Main  street  to  Smith  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Smith  street  to  the  easterly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated 
by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  northerly  on  the  easterly 
line  of  said  property  to  Orms  street;  westerly  through  the  center 
of  Orms  street  to  Candace  street;  northerly  through  the  center 
of  Candace  street  to  Douglas  avenue;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Douglas  avenue  to  .  Fillmore  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Fillmore  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(8)  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1612,  Public  Laws.)  ^rhth*^- 
The  Eighth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  that  *"*^*- 
part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  the 
Providence  and  North  Providence  boundary  line  where  it  is 
crossed  by  Admiral  street,  extending  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Admiral  street  to  Douglas  avenue;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Douglas  avenue  to  Candace  street ;  southerly  • 
through  the  center  of  Candace  street  to  Chalkestone  avenue; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Chalkestone  avenue  to  Harold 
street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Harold  street  to  Regent 
avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Regent  avenue  to  Alton 
street ;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Alton  street  to  Wisdom 
avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Wisdjom  avenue  to 
Academy  avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Academy  ave- 
nue to  Hendrick  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Hendrick 
street  to  Mount  Pleasant  avenue ;  northerly  through  the  center 
of  Mount  Pleasant  avenue  to  a  point  in  range  with  the  southerly 
line  of  the  school  estate  located  at  the  southwesterly  comer  of 
said  Mount  Pleasant  avenue  and  Chalkestone  avenue;  westerly 


136  ELECTION   LAWS. 

in  said  range  and  in  said  southerly  line  to  the  southwesterly 
corner  of  said  school  estate;  northerly  in  the  westerly  line  of 
said  school  estate  and  the  range  thereof  to  the  center  of  Chalk- 
stone  avenue ;.  westerly  through  the  center  of  Chalkstone  avenue 
to  Manton  avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Manton  ave- 
nue to  the  Providence  and  North  Providence  boundary  line; 
northwesterly,  northerly,  and  northeasterly  on  said  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

SSth^Srict.  (9)  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1612,  Public  Laws.) 
The  Ninth  Representative  District  shall  consist  of  all  that  part 
of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  center 
of  Manton  avenue  bridge  over  the  Woonasquatucket  river,  ex- 
tending easterly  through  the  center  of  Manton  avenue  to  Chalk- 
stone  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Chalkstone  avenue 
to  a  point  in  range  with  the  westerly  line  of  the  school  estate 
located  at  the  southwesterly  comer  of  said  Chalkstone  avenue 
and  Mount  Pleasant  avenue;  southerly  in  said  range  and  said 
westerly  line  to  the  southwesterly  corner  of  said  school  estate ; 
easterly  in  the  southerly  line  of  said  school  estate  and  the  range 
thereof  to  the  center  line  of  Mount  Pleasant  avenue;  southerly 
through  the  center  of  Mount  Pleasant  avenue  to  Hendrick  street; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Hendrick  street  to  Academy 
avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Academy  avenue  to 
Atwell's  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Atwell's  avenue 
to  Bowdoin  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Bowdoin 
street  to  Appleton  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Appleton  street  to  Julian  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Julian  street  to  Manton  avenue ;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Manton  avenue  to  Erastus  street ;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Erastus  street  to  Atwell's  avenue ;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Atwell's  avenue  to  Manton  avenue;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  Manton  avenue  to  the  westerly  line  of  the 
D3'erville  Mfg.  Company's  plat  recorded  in  the  recorder's  office, 
Porvidence,  on  plat  card  601;  southwesterly  on  said  line  to  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  137 

center  line  of  the  Woonasquatucket  river;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(10)  The  Tenth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ?enti?*DSrict. 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 

the  center  of  the  Woonasquatucket  river  opposite  the  westerly 
line  of  the  Dyerville  Mfg.  Company's  plat,  recorded  in  the 
recorder's  office.  Providence,  on  plat  card  601 ;  extending  north- 
easterly on  said  line  to  Man  ton  avenue ;  easterly .  through  the 
center  of  Manton  avenue  to  Atwell's  avenue;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  Atwell's  avenue  to  Erastus  street;  southerly 
through  the  center  of  Erastus  street  to  Manton  avenue;  south- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Manton  avenue  to  Olneyville 
square;  southwesterly  through  Olneyville  square  to  Plainfield 
street;  southwesterly  and  westerly  through  the  center  of  Plain- 
field  street  to  Lawrence  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Lawrence  street  to  Bend  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Bend  street  to  Barrows  street;  southeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Barrows  street  to  Pocasset  avenue;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Pocasset  avenue  to  the  city  line;  thence 
westerly,  northwesterly,  and  easterly  on  said  boundary  line  to 
the  center  of  the  Woonasquatucket  river;  thence  by  the  center 
of  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(11)  The  Eleventh  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  ^;°^«J°«£>jg. 
all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  trict. 

at  the  intersection  of  Plainfield  street  and  Lawrence  street, 
extending  easterly  and  northeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Plainfield  street  to  Atwood  street;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Atwood  street  to  McDonough  street ;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  McDonough  street;  crossing  the  old  Providence 
and  Springfield  railroad  tracks,  to  the  westerly  main  line  of  the 
railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co; 
southwesterly  on  said  westerly  line  to  the  line  of  Wendell  street; 
easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Wendell  street 
to  Messer  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Messer 
street   to    Cranston    street;    southwesterly    through    the   center 


trict. 


138  ELECTION   LAWS. 

of  Cranston  street  to  the  city  line;  thence  northwesterly  and 
westerly  on  said  line  to  Pocasset  avenue;  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Pocasset  avenue  to  Barrows  street:  northwesterlv 
through  the  center  of  Barrows  street  to  Bend  street;  northeast- 
erly through  the  center  of  Bend  street  to  Lawrence  street: 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Lawrence  street  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

Twemrms-  (^^^     "^^^  Twelfth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 

that  part  of  said  city  hounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  center  of  Plainfield  street  opposite  Atwood  street,  extending 
northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Plainfield  street  to  Olney- 
ville  square;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Olneyville  square 
to  Westminster  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  West- 
minster street  to  Broadway;  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Broadway  to  the  westerly  line  of  the  railroad  property 
operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  northeasterly  on 
said  line  to  Atwell's  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of 
AtwelFs  avenue  to  Knight  street;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Knight  street  to  Swiss  street;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Swiss  street  to  Decatur  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Decatur  street  to  Cesler  street;  south- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Gesler  street  to  Almy  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Almy  street  to  Broadway; 
southwesterly  tlirough  the  center  of  Broadway  to  Bainbridge 
avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Bainbridge  avenue  to 
Westminster  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Westminster 
street  to  Sycamore  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Sycamore  street  to  Willow  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Willow  street  to  Messer  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Messer  street  to  Wendell  street;  westerly  through  the  center 
of  Wendell  street  and  in  the  line  of  Wendell  street  to  the  w^esterly 
line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N",  H.  &  H. 
R.  R.  Co.;  northerly  on  said  line  to  McDonough  street;  westerly 
through    the    center    of   McDonough    street    to   Atwood    street; 


ELECTION    LAWS.  .  139 

northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Atwood  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(13)  The   Thirteenth   Representative-District  shall  consist  Providenc*; 

-  \.  '  ^  ^  Thirteenth  DU- 

of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  Jbeginning  at  the  t^ict- 
intersection  of  Wisdom  avenue  and  Academy  avenue,  extend- 
ing easterly  through  the  center  of  Wisdom  avenue  to  Alton 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Alton  street  to  Regent 
avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Regent  avenue  to  Harold 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Harold  street  to  Chalk- 
stone  avenue;  easterly  througli  the  center  of  Chalkstone  avenue 
to  Ayrault  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Ayrault 
street  to  Valley  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Valley  street  to  Rathbone  street;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Rathbone  street  to  the  Woonasquatucket  river; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  the  Woonasquatucket 
river  to  AtwelFs  avenue ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  AtwelPs 
avenue  to  the  Avesterly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by 
the  N.  Y.,  X.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.;  southwesterly  on  said  line  to 
Broadway;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Broadway  to 
Westminster  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Westminster 
street  to  Olneyville  square ;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Olneyville  square  to  Manton  avenue;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Manton  avenue  to  Julian  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Julian  street  to  Appleton  street;  south- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Appleton  street  to  Bowdoin  street ; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Bowdoin  street  to  AtwelFs 
avenue ;  westei'ly  tliroiigh  the  center  of  AtwelFs  avenue  to 
Academy  avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Academy 
avenue  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(14)  The  Fourteenth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  J!^<^^/*^J®' 
all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  District, 
in  the  center  of  the  Woonasquatucket  river  where  it  is  crossed 

by  AtwelFs  avenue,  extending  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  said  river  to  Acorn  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Acorn   street  to   West   Exchange   street;  westerly  through   the 


140 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Providence; 
Fifteenth    Dis- 
trict. 


Providence; 
Sixteenth    Dis- 
trict. 


center  of  West  Exchange  street  to  Murphy  street;  southerly 
through  the  center  of  Murphy  street  to  AtwelFs  avenue;  cross- 
ing AtwelPs  avenue  to  the  northwesterly  corner  of  the  fire 
station,  located  at  the  comer  of  Atwell's  avenue  and  America 
street;  following  the  westerly  and  southerly  sides  of  said  fire 
station  to  America  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
America  street  to  Federal  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Federal  street  to  Sutton  street;  southerly  through  the 
center  of  Sutton  street  to  Broadway;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Broadway  to  Almy  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Almy  street  to  Gesler  street;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Gesler  street  to  Decatur  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Decatur  street  to  Swiss  street;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Swiss  street  to  Knight  street;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Knight  street  to  Atwell's  avenue ;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  AtwelFs  avenue  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(15)  The  Fifteenth  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist  of 
all  that  part  of  said  city  hounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
on  Broadway,  opposite  Bainbridge  avenue,  extending  north- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Broadway  to  Sutton  street; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Sutton  street  to  Federal  street ; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Federal  street  to  Dean  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Dean  street  to  Westminster 
street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Westminster  street 
to  Cranston  street ;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cranston 
street  to  Bridgham  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Bridgham  street  to  Division  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Division  street  to  Dexter  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Dexter  street  to  Westminster  street;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Westminster  street  to  Bainbridge  avenue;  north- 
erly through  the  center  of  Bainbridge  avenue  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(16)  The  Sixteenth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of 
all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
on    Chalkstone    avenue,    opposite    Ayrault    street,    extending 


ELECTION   LAWS.  ^  141 

northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Chalkstone  avenue  to 
Candace  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Candace  street 
to  Orms  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Orms  street  to 
easterly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y., 
N.  H.  &  H.  E.  R.  Co.;  southerly  on  said  line  to  Smith  street; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Smith  street  to  North  Main 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  North  Main  street 
to  Star  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Star  street  to 
Benefit  street ;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Benefit  street 
to  Waterman  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  "Water- 
man street  to  North  Main  street;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  North  Main  street  to  Friend  street;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Friend  street  to  Canal  street;  thence  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  northeasterly  corner  of  Exchange  bridge; 
thence  in  a  straight  line  to  a  point  in  the  center  of  the  north- 
erly line  of  Burnside  bridge;  thence  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Providence  river  to  a  point  on  the  line  of  Hay  street 
extended ;  northwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of 
Hay  street  to  Friendship  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Friendship  street  to  Richmond  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Richmond  street  to  Ship  street;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  Ship  street  to  Elbow  street ;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Elbow  street  to  Chestnut  street;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Chestnut  street  to  Weybosset 
street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Weybosset  street  to 
Burril]  street ;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Burrill  street 
to  Westminster  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Westminster  street  to  Walnut  street;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Walnut  street  to  Washington  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Washington  street  to  Empire  street; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Empire  street  to  Fountain 
street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Fountain  street  to 
Aborn  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Abom  street 
to  Sabin  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Sabin 
street  to  Mathewson  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center 


142 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Providence ; 
Seventeenth 
District. 


Providence; 
Eighteenth 
District. 


of  Matliewson  street  and  the  line  of  Mathewson  street  to  the 
soiitlierly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y., 
N.  H.  &  H.  E.  R.  Co. ;  westerly  on  said  line  to  Acorn  street ; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Acorn  street  to  the  Woon- 
asquatucket  river;  easterly  through  the  center  of  the  Woon- 
asquatucket  river  to  Rathbone  street;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Rathbone  street  to  Yalley  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Valley  street  to  Ayrault  street;  north- 
erly through  the  center  of  Ayrault  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(17)  The  Seventeenth  Representative-District  shall  consist 
of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a 
point  on  the  southerly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by 
the  N".  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.  where  it  is  crossed  by  Acorn 
street,  extending  easterly  in  said  line  to  a  point  in  the  line  of 
Mathewson  street;  southeasterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the 
center  of  Mathewson  street  to  Sajbin  street;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Sabin  street  to  Abom  street;  soutli- 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Aborn  street  to  Fountain  street; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Fountain  street  to  Empire 
street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Empire  street  to 
Washington  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Wash- 
ington street  to  Jackson  street ;  northwesterly  through  the  center 
of  Jackson  street  to  Cope  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Cope  street  to  Federal  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Federal  street  to  America  street;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  America  street  to  the  southerly  line  of  the  fire  station, 
located  at  the  comer  of  AtwelFs  avenue  and  America  street; 
following  the  southerly  and  westerly  sides  of  said  fire  station  to 
Atwell's  avenue ;  thence  northerly  through  the  center  of  Murphy 
street  to  West  Exchange  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  West  Exchange  street  to  Acorn  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Acorn  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(18)  The  Eighteenth  Representative-District  shall  consist 
of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a 


ELECTION    LAAVS.  143 

point  at  tlie  intersection  of  Federal  and  Dean  streets,  extending 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Federal  street  to  Cope  street; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Cope  street  to  Jackson  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Jackson  street  to  Washing- 
ton street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Washington  street 
to  Walnut  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Walnut 
street  to  Westminster  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Westminster  street  to  Burrill  street;  southeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Burrill  street  to  AVeybosset  street;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  Weybosset  street  to  Chestnut  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Chestnut  street  to  Elbow  street;  south- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Elbow  street  to  Hospital  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Hospital  street  to  Elm 
street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Elm  street  to  Plain 
street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Plain  street  to  Point 
street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Point  street  to 
Friendship  street;  southewesterly  through  the  center  of  Friend- 
ship street  to  Lockwood  street;  northwesterly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Lockwood  street  to  Broad  street;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Broad  street  to  Pearl  street ;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Pearl  street  to  Cranston  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Cranston  street  to  Westminster  street; 
northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Westminster  street  to  Dean 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Dean  street  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

(19)     The  Nineteenth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  providence: 

.,.        ,  -,-,,  T        i'-       •  J  -i    i?rineteenth 

all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  District, 
at  the  intersection  of  Willow  street  and  Messer  street,  extending 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Willow  street  to  Sycamore  street ; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Sycamore  street  to  Westminster 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Westminster  street  to 
Dexter  street ;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Dexter  street 
to  Division  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Division 
street  to  Bridgham  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Bridgham  street  to  Cranston  street;  northeasterly  through  the 


144 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Providence; 
Tw«itieth  Dis- 
trict. 


Providence; 
Twenty-flrat 
District. 


center  of  Cranston  street  to  Pearl  street;  southeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Pearl  street  to  Broad  street ;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Broad  street  to  Elm  wood  avenue;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Elmwood  avenue  to  West  Field  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  West  Field  street  to  Dexter 
street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  Hanover 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Hanover  street  to 
Cranston  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cranston 
street  to  Messer  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Messer  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(20)  The  Twentieth  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist 
of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a 
point  in  the  center  of  Cranston  street,  opposite  Hanover  street, 
extending  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Hanover  street 
to  Dexter  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Dexter 
street  to  Potter  avenue;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Potter  avenue  to  Melrose  street;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Melrose  street  to  Grallatin  street;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Gallatin  street  and  in  the  line  of  Gallatin 
street  to  the  western  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated 
by  the  N.  Y.,  N".  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  southeasterly  on  said  line 
to  the  Cranston-Providence  boundary  line;  thence  westerly 
and  northwesterly  on  said  line  to  Cranston  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Cranston  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(21)  The  Twenty-first  Representative-District  shall  consist 
of  all  that  part  of -said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a 
point  in  the  center  of  Dexter  street,  opposite  West  Field  street, 
extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  West  Field  street  to 
Elmwood  avenue;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Elmwood 
avenue  to  Broad  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Broad  street  to  Lockwood  street;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Lockwood  street  to  West  Clifford  street;  southwesterly 
through  the  center  of  West  Clifford  htreet  to  Dudley  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Dudley  street  to  Prairie 
avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Prairie  avenue  to  Public 


ELECTION   LAWS.  145 

street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Public  street  to 
Elmwood  avenue;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Elmwood 
avenue  to  Potter  avenue;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Potter  avenue  to  Dexter  street;  northeasterly  and  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(22)  The  Twenty-second  Representative-District  shall  con-  Providence; 
sist  of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  District, 
point  at  the  intersection  of  Elmwood  avenue  and  Potter  avenue, 
extending  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Elmwood  avenue 

to  Public  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Public  street  to 
Prairie  avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Prairie  avenue 
to  Reynolds  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Reynolds 
avenue  to  Burnside  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Burnside  street  to  Thurber's  avenue;  westerly  through  the 
center  of  Thurber's  avenue  to  Broad  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Broad  street  to  the  northerly  line  of  the 
railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.; 
southwesterly  on  said  line  to  a  line  running  due  north  and  south 
through  Roger  Williams  Park  to  a  point  on  the  city  line  where 
it  is  crossed  by  Elm  Brook ;  thence  by  said  north  and  south  line 
to  said  point  in  the  Cranston-Providence  boundary  line;  north- 
westerly, northerly,  and  westerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  the 
westerly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y., 
N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  thence  in  a  general  northerly  direction  on 
said  raih'oad  line  to  a  point  in  the  line  of  Gallatin  street ;  easterly 
in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Gallatin  street  to  Mel- 
rose street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Melrose  street 
to  Potter  avenue;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Potter 
avenue  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(23)  The  Twenty-third  Representative  District  shall  consist  ?J?e'2^thiid 
lof  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  ^'^*'*' 

at  the  intersection  of  Friendship  street  and  Lockwood  street; 
extending  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Friendship  street 
to  Point  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Point  street  to 
Plain  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Plain  street  to 
10 


146  ELECTION    LAWS. 

Lockwood  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Lock- 
wood  street  to  Hospital  street;  southeasterly  through  the  centei 
of  Hospital  street  to  Eddy  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Eddy  street  to  Dudley  street;  westerly  through  th< 
center  of  Dudley  street  to  Culver  street;  southerly  through  the 
center  of  Culver  street  to  Bishop  street;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Bishop  street  to  Plain  street;  southerly  through 
the  center  of  Plain  street  to  Public  street ;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Public  street  to  Prairie  avenue;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Prairie  avenue  to  Dudley  street;  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Dudley  street  to  West  Clifford  street; 
northeasterly  through  the  center  of  West  Clifford  street  to 
Lockwood  street;  northwesterly  througli  the  center  of  Lock- 
wood  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Providence;  (24)     The  Twenty-fourth  Representative-District  shall  con- 

District,  gjg^  of  ^11  ^]-^at  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a 

point  in  the  center  of  Plain  street,  opposite  Elm  street,  extending 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Elm  street  to  Hospital  street; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Hospital  street  to  Elbow 
street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Elbow  street  to  Ship 
street;  easterly  tlirough  the  center  of  Ship  street  to  Richmond 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Richmond  street 
to  Friendship  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Friend- 
ship street  to  Hay  street ;  southeasterly  in  the  line  of  Hay  street, 
extended  to  the  center  of  Providence  river;  southeasterly  in  the 
center  of  Providence  river  and  Providence  harbor  to  the  line  of 
Oxford  street ;  southwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center 
of  Oxford  street  to  Eddy  street;  northerly  througli  the  center  of 
Eddy  street  to  Sayles  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Sayles  street  to  Burnside  street ;  northerly  through  the  center 
of  Burnside  street  to  Reynolds  avenue;  westerly  through  the 
*  center  of  Reynolds  avenue  to  Prairie  avenue;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Prairie  avenue  to  Public  street;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  Public  street  to  Plain  street;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Plain  street  to  Bishop  street ;  northeasterly  through 


ELECTION   LAWS.  147 

the  center  of  Bishop  street  to  Culver  street ;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Culver  street  to  Dudley  street ;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Dudley  street  to  Eddy  street ;  northeasterly  through  the 
center  of  ]^ddy  street  to  Hospital  street;  northwesterly  through 
tlie  center  of  Hospital  street  to  Lockwood  street;  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Lockwood  street  to  Plain  street;  north- 
erly through  the  center  of  Plain  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(25)     The  twenty-fiftli  Representative-District  shall  consist  Providence; 

^        ^  .  .  Twenty-fifth 

of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  district, 
point  in  the  center  of  Broad  street,  opposite  Thurber's  avenue, 
extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  Thurber's  avenue  to 
Burnside  street ;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Burnside  street 
to  Sayles  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Sayles  street  to 
Eddy  street;  sout'.ierly  through  the  center  of  Eddy  street  to 
Oxford  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Oxford  street 
and  the  line  of  Oxford  street  to  the  city  line  in  Providence 
harbor,  thence  following  said  line  around  Starve  Goat  Island 
and  westerly,  soutlierly,  and  westerly  to  its  intersection  with 
Elm  Brook  at  Park  avenue;  thence  due  north  through  Roger 
Williams  Park  to  the  northerly  line  of  the  railroad  property 
operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  northeasterly  on 
said  line  to  Broad  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Broad  street  to  tlie  place  of  beginning. 

Sec.  7.— PA^YTUCKET. 

The   City   of   Pawtucket   is   hereby   divided   into   ten    repre- 
sentative-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^?^"^iJi|*t'ict. 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Blackstone  river  at  the  intersection  of  the  Cumberland, 
Central  Falls,  and  Pawtucket  boundary  lines,  extending  easterly 
and  southerly  along  the  Massachusetts-Rhode  Island  boundary 
line  to  center  of  Central  avenue;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Central  avenue  to  the  center  of  Benefit  street ;  westerly 


348  ELECTION   LAWS. 

through  the  center  of  Benefit  street  to  Newport  avenue;  south- 
erly through  the  center  of  Newport  avenue  to  Chaplin  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Chaplin  street  to  Cottage  street ; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cottage  street  to  Kenyon 
avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Kenyon  avenue  to 
Webster  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Webster  street 
to  Broadway;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Broadway  to 
East  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  East  street  to  Middle 
street ;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Middle  street  to  Eldridge 
street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Eldridge  street  to  the 
Pawtucket-Central  Falls  boundary  line  in  the  Blackstone  river; 
northerly  in  said  boundary  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Pawtucket;  (2)     The  Second  Representative  District  shall  consist  of  all 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Blackstone  river  on  the  Pawtucket-Central  Falls  boundary 
line  in  the  line  of  Eldridge  street,  extending  easterly  in  the  line  of 
and  through  the  center  of  Eldridge  street  to  N'orth  Main  street ; 
thence  southw^esterly  through  the  center  of  North  Main  street 
to  the  center  of  Middle  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Middle  street  to  the  center  of  East  street;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  East  street  to  Broadway;  southerly  through  the  center 
of  Broadway  to  Gooding  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Gooding  street  to  Park  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Park  street  to  Carnation  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of 
Carnation  street  to  Sabin  street;  southerly  through  the  center 
of  Sabin  street  to  Cottage  street;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Cottage  street  to  North  Bend  street ;  southerly  through 
the  center  of  North  Bend  street  to  Spring  street;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  Spring  street  to  Howard  avenue;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Howard  avenue  to  Cottage  street ; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cottage  street  and  Broad- 
way to  Main  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Main 
street  to  the  center  of  the  Blackstone  river ;  northerly  along  the 
center  of  the  Blackstone  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(3)     The  Third  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 


ELECTION    LAWS.  149 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beffinnins:  at  a  point  in  ^T^^J^^^'*. 

-  °  °  ^  Third  Dwtnct, 

the  intersection  of  Broadway  and  Webster  str^t,  extending 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Webster  street  to  Kenyon  avenue ; 
southerly  through  the  center  of  Kenyon  avenue  to  Cottage 
street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cottage  street  to 
Chaplin  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Chaplin  street  to 
Newport  avenue;  northerly  through  the'  center  of  Newport 
avenue  to  Benefit  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Benefit 
street  to  the  center  of  Central  avenue;  southeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Central  avenue  to  the  Rhode  Island-Massachusetts 
boundary  line;  southerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  Brook  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Brook  street  to  York  avenue; 
southerly  through  the  center  of  York  avenue  to  Walcott  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Walcott  street  to  Ashton  street; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Ashton  street  to  Brook  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Brook  street  to  North  Bend  street ; 
northerly  through  the  center  of.  North  Bend  street  to  Cottage 
street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cottage  street  to 
Sabin  street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Sabin  street  to 
Carnation  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Carnation  street 
to  Park  street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Park  street  to 
Gooding  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Gooding  street 
to  Broadway;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Broadway  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  pj^^'^*^ 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  *^^°*- 
Main  street  where  it  is  intersected  by  the  Pawtucket  river, 
extending  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Main  street  to  the 
center  line  of  Broadway;  thence  northeasterly  through  the 
center  line  of  Broadway  to  the  center  line  of  Cottage  street; 
thence  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cottage  street  to 
Howard  avenue;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Howard 
avenue  to  Spring  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Spring 
street  to  North  Bend  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
North  Bend  street  to  Brook  street;  easterly  through  the  center 


160  *  ELECTION    LAWS. 

of  Brook  street  to  Ashton  street;  southerly  through  the  center 
of  Ashton  street  to  Walcott  street;  easterly  through  the  center 
of  Walcott  street  to  York  avenue;  northerly  through  the  center 
of  York  avenue  to  Brook  street ;  southeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Brook  street  to  the  Rhode  Island-Massachusetts  boundary 
line;  southerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  the  Pawtucket-East 
Providence  boundary  line;  westerly  on  said  boundary  line  to 
Prospect  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Prospect 
street  to  Exeter  avenue;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Exeter  avenue  to  Rhode  Island  avenue;  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Rhode  Island  avenue  to  Brewster  street;  northerly 
through  the  center  of  Brewster  street  to  Division  street ;  west- 
erly through  the  center  of  Division  street  to  Prospect  street ; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Prospect  street  to  School 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  School  street  to  Main 
street;  w^esterly  and  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Main 
street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Fiffmstrict  (^)      "^^^  ¥iith  Representative-District  shall  consist   of  all 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on 
Main  street  where  it  is  intersected  by  the  center  line  of  Paw- 
tucket  river,  extending  southeasterly  and  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Main  street  to  School  street;  southerly  through  the 
center  of  School  street  to  Prospect  street;  southeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Prospect  street  to  Division  street ;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  Division  street  to  Brewster  street;  southerly 
through  the  center  of  Brewster  street  to  Rhode  Island  avenue; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Rhode  Island  avenue  to 
Exeter  avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Exeter  avenue  to 
Prospedt  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Prospect 
street  to  the  Pawtucket-East  Providence  boundary  line; 
westerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  a  point  in  the  Pawtucket 
river  where  it  meets  the  Providence  city  line ;  northerly  from 
said  point  along  the  center  of  the  Pawtucket  river  to  the  line  of 
Bowles  street;  southwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the 
center  of  Bowles  street  to  Pleasant  street;  northerly  through 


ELECTION   LAWS.  ISJ 

the  center  of  Pleasant  street  to  Cedar  street;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Cedar  street  to  Mulberry  street ;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  Mulberry  street  to  Main  street ;  northeasterly  and 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Main  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(6)  The   sixth   Representative-District   shall  consist   of  all  Pawtucket; 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 

where  Reservoir  avenue  intersects  the  Pawtucket-Lincoln  boun- 
dary line,  extending  easterly  along  said  boundary  line  and  the 
Pawtucket-Central  Falls  boundary  line  to  the  center  of  the  Paw- 
tucket river;  southerly  along  the  center  of  the  Pawtucket  river 
to  Main  street ;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Main  street 
and  Dexter  street  to  Weeden  street;  westerly  through  the  center 
of  Weeden  street  to  Reservoir  avenue;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Reservoir  avenue  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(7)  The  Seventh  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^^"^^d^ 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  *^"'^*- 
where  the  North  Providence,  Lincoln,  and  Pawtucket  boundary 

lines  intersect,  extending  easterly  along  the  Pawtucket-Lincoln 
boundary  line  to  Reservoir  avenue;  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Reservoir  avenue  to  Weeden  street;  easterly  through 
the  center  of  Weeden  street  to  Dexter  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  Main  street;  south- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Main  street  to  Mineral  Spring 
avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Mineral  Spring  avenue 
to  Hurley  avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Hurley  ave- 
nue to  Grrotto  avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Grotto 
avenue  and  the  line  of  Grotto  avenue  to  the  Pawtucket-North 
Providence  boundary  line ;  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(8)  The  Eighth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^^^Sh^^- 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  *"^'- 

the  intersection  of  Hurley  avenue  and  Mineral  Spring  avenue, 
extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  Mineral  Spring  avenue 
to  Main  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Main  street 


152  ELECTION    LAWS. 

to  Mul'berry  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Mulberry 
street  to  Cedar  street ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Cedar  street 
to  West  avenue ;  southerly  through  the  center  of  West  avenue  to 
Pearl  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Pearl  street  to  Mul- 
berry street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Mulberry  street  to 
Brown  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Brown  street  to 
Washington  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Washington 
street  to  Randall  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Randall 
street  to  Main  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Main 
street  to  Thurston  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Thurston  street  to  the  center  of  Henry  street;  thence  westerly 
through  the  center  line  of  Henry  street  and  a  continuation 
thereof  to  the  easterly  line  of  the  railroad  property  operated  by 
the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  northeasterly  on  said  line  to  a 
point  on  road  line  opposite  the  southerly  end  of  Dix  avenue; 
thence  westerly  crossing  said  property  at  right  angles  to  the 
southerly  line  of  the  old  Moshassuck  R.  R.  Company's  property; 
thence  on  said  line  in  a  general  westerly  direction  to  its  inter- 
section with  the  line  of  Hurley  avenue;  northerly  in  the  line  of 
and  through  the  center  of  Hurley  avenue  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning, 
pawtucket;  (9)     The  Ninth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 

Ninth  District. 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  intersection  of  the  North  Providence  line  and  Grotto  ave- 
nue, extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  Grotto  avenue  to 
the  center  of  Hurley  avenue;  thence  southerly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Hurley  avenue  to  the  old  southerly  line  of  the  property 
operated  by  the  Moshassuck  Valley  R.  R.  Co.;  easterly  on  said 
southerly  line  to  the  easterly  line  of  the  railroad  property  oper- 
ated by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  thence  easterly  to  the 
easterly  line  of  said  railroad  property ;  southwesterly  on  said  line 
to  a  point  in  the  center  line  of  Henry  street;  thence  easterly  in 
the  center  line  of  Henry  street  to  Thurston  street ;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Thurston  street  to  Randall  street;  easterly 
through  the  center  of  Randall  street  to  Dunnell  avenue;  south- 


ELKCTION   LAWS.  15;j 

erly  through  the  center  of  Bunnell  avenue  to  Magill  street ;  east- 
erly through  the  center  of  Magill  street  to  Knowles  street;  south- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Knowles  street  to  Clyde  street; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Clyde  street  to  East  avenue; 
southerly  and  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  East  avenue 
to  the  Pa wtucket- Providence  boundary  line;  westerly  on  said 
line  to  the  Pawtucket-North  Providence  boundary  line;  north- 
erly on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(10)     The  Tenth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  Pawtucket; 

.  Tenth  District. 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  intersection  of  West  avenue  and  Cedar  street,  extending  east- 
erly through  the  center  of  Cedar  street  to  Pleasant  street;  south- 
erly through  the  center  of  Pleasant  street  to  Bowles  street ;  east- 
erly through  the  center  of  Bowles  street  and  the  line  of  Bowles 
street  to  the  center  of  the  Pawtucket  river;  southerly  along  the 
center  of  said  river  to  the  Pawtucket-Providence  boundary  line ; 
westerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  East  avenue;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  East  avenue  to  Clyde  street;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  Clyde  street  to  Knowles  street;  northwest- 
erly through  the  center  of  Knowles  street  to  Magill  street;  west- 
erly through  the  center  of  Magill  street  to  Bunnell  avenue; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Bunnell  avenue  to  Randall 
street ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Randall  street  to  Washing- 
ton street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Washington  street  to 
Brown  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Brown  street  to 
Mulberry  street ;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Mulberry  street 
to  Pearl  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Pearl  street  to 
West  avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of  West  avenue  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Sec.  8.— WOONSOCKET. 

The  city  of  Woonsocket  is  hereby  divided  into  eight  represen- 
tative-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows : — 

(1)     The  First  Representative-Bistrict  shall  consist  of  ail  ^^^°*g£^'ci. 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 


154  ELECTION    LAWS. 

the  line  of  Pine  street  where  said  street  intersects  the  western 
boundary  line  of  ward  1,  extending  easterly  through  the  center 
of  Pine  street  to  Union  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Union  street  to  Bell  street;  southeasterly  tlirough  the  center 
of  Bell  street  to  Park  avenue;  northeasterly  through  the  center 
of  Park  avenue  to  Bernon  street;  southeasterly  and  easterly 
through  the  center  of  Bernon  street  and  the  line  of  Bernon  street 
to  the  center  of  the  Blackstone  river ;  southerly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  the  Blackstone  river  to  the  North  Smithfield  and  Woon- 
socket  town  line;  westerly  and  northwesterly  on  said  town  line 
to  South  Main  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  South  • 
Main  street  to  Providence  street;  southeasterly  througli  the  cen- 
ter of  Providence  street  to  Lincoln  street ;  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Lincoln  street  and  the  line  of  Lincoln  street  to  the 
center  of  Bernon  pond;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Bernon 
pond  to  the  place  of  beginning, 
woonsocket;  (2)     The  Sccond  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Blackstone  river  where  the  Woonsocket  and  North  Smith- 
field  town  line  intersects  the  western  boundary  line  of  ward  4, 
extending  southeasterly,  southerly,  and  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  the  Blackstone  river  to  its  intersection  with  the 
tracks  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  Boston  and  Pascoag 
line;  southwesterly  along  said  tracks  to  the  line  of  Hope  street; 
easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Hope  street  to 
Glenark  street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Glenark  street 
to  Sayles  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Sayles  street  to 
the  center  of  Blackstone  river;  southeasterly  along  the  center  of 
the  Blackstone  river  to  a  point  in  the  line  of  Lincoln  street; 
southwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Lincoln 
street  to  Providence  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Providence  street  to  South  Main  street;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  South  Main  street  to  the  Woonsocket  and  North 
Smithfield  town  line;  northwesterly  and  easterly  along  said  line- 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  155 

(3)  The  Third  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  JJ^S^gS'stJict 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 

the  Blackstone  river  where  the  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island 
state  line  intersects  the  western  boundary  line  of  ward  4,  ex- 
tending along  said  state  line  in  an  easterly  direction  to  Prospect 
street;  southeasterly,  easterly,  and  southeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Prospect  street  to  North  Main  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  North  Main  street  to  Daniels  street ;  north- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Daniels  street  to  Earl  street; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Earl  street  to  Mechanics 
avenue;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Mechanics  avenue 
to  Pond  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Pond  street 
to  Clinton  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Clinton 
street  to  the  tracks  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  Provi- 
dence and  Worcester  line ;  westerly  along  said  tracks  to  the  line 
of  Main  street ;  northerly  in  the  line  of  Main  street  to  the  junc- 
tion of  Main  street  and  Railroad  street ;  northwesterly  through 
the  center  of  Railroad  street  to  Harris  avenue;  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Harris  avenue  to  Yerry  street ;  southwest- 
erly and  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Verry  street  to  a 
point  in  the  Blackstone  river  where  the  second  and  third  and 
fourth  ward  lines  intersect ;  northwesterly  and  northerly  through 
the  center  of  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^^o^JTrth^Dfi' 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  *"*^*- 

the  Blackstone  river  where  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  ward 
lines  intersect,  extending  southeasterly  and  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Verry  street  to  Harris  avenue;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Harris  avenue  to  Railroad  street;  south- 
easterly through  the  center  of  Railroad  street  to  the  junction  of 
Railroad  street  and  Main  street;  southerly  in  the  line  of  Main 
street  to  the  tracks  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  Provi- 
dence and  Worcester  line ;  easterly  along  said  tracks  to  the  inter- 
section of  the  first,  third,  and  fourth  ward  lines  in  the  Black- 
stone river  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  the  Blackstone 


156 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Woon»ocket; 
Fifth   District. 


Wbonaocket ; 
Sixth   District. 


river  on  the  westerly  boundary  line  of  ward  1,  to  Bernon 
pond;  westerly  and  northwesterly  on  the  northern  and  eastern 
boundary  line  of  ward  2  in  the  Blackstone  river  to  Sayles  street ; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Sayles  street  to  Glenark  street; 
southerly  through  the  center  of  Glenark  street  to  Hope  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Hope  street  to  the  tracks  of  the 
Boston  and  Pascoag  line  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  E.  E.  Co. ; 
northeasterly  along  the  tracks  of  said  railroad  to  the  center  of 
the  Blackstone  river ;  westerly  and  northerly  along  the  center  of 
the  Blackstone  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(5)  The  Fifth  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Ehode  Island  and  Massachusetts  state  line  where  Prospect 
street  crosses  said  line,  extending  easterly  along  said  state  line  to 
Eathbun  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Eathbun 
street  to  Social  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  So- 
cial street  to  Second  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Second  street  and  the  line  of  Second  street  to  the  northern 
boundary  line  of  ward  1  in  the  Blackstone  river;  southwesterly 
along  said  ward  line  in  the  Blackstone  river  to  the  tracks  of  the 
Providence  and  Worcester  line  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  E.  E. 
Co.;  westerly  along  said  tracks  to  Clinton  street;  northeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Clinton  street  to  Pond  street;  northwest- 
erly through  the  center  of  Pond  street  to  Mechanics  avenue; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Mechanics  avenue  to  Earl 
street ;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Earl  street  to  Daniels 
street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Daniels  street  to 
North  Main  street ;  northerly  through  the  center  of  North  Main 
street  to  Prospect  street;  northwesterly,  westerly,  and  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Prospect  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

(6)  The  Sixth  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  intersection  of  Second  street  and  Social  street,  extending 
easterly   through   the   center   of    Social   street   to    Cumberland 


ELECTION   LAWS.  157 

street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cumberland  street 
to  Brook  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Brook  street 
to  Elm  street;  southeasterly  and  easterly  through  the  center  of 
Elm  street  to  Dulude  avenue;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Dulude  avenue  to  Cass  avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Cass  avenue  to  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  ward  1  in  the  Black- 
stone  river;  northwesterly,  westerly,  and  southwesterly  along 
said  line  in  the  Blackstone  river  to  the  line  of  Second  street; 
northwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Second 
street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(7)  The  Seventh  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  WooMocket; 

^    ^  i?       •        •  Seventh   Dis- 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  ^<^ 
the  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  state  line  where  Rathbun 
street  crosses  said  line,  extending  easterly  along  said  line  to  the 
Cumberland  town  line;  southerly  and  southeasterly  on  the 
Woonsocket  and  Cumberland  town  line  to  its  junction  with  the 
North  Smithfield  town  line  in  the  Blackstone  river;  northwest- 
erly through  the  center  of  the  Blackstone  river  along  the  eastern 
boundary  line  of  ward  1  to  its  intersection  with  the  line  of  Cass 
avenue;  easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Cass 
avenue  to  Dulude  avenue;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Dulude  avenue  to  Elm  street;  westerly  and  northwesterly 
through  the  center  of  Elm  street  to  Brook  street;  southwest- 
erly through  the  center  of  Brook  street  to  Cumberland  street; 
northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cumberland  street  to  Rath- 
bun  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Rathbun  street 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(8)  The  Eighth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all   woonsocket; 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  trict. 

the  center  of  the  Blackstone  river  where  Bernon  street  intersects 
the  western  boundary  line  of  ward  1,  extending  northeasterly, 
easterly,  and  southeasterly  on  said  ward  line  in  the  Blackstone 
river  to  the  line  of  Bernon  street;  westerly  and  northwesterly 
in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Bernon  street  to  Park 
avenue;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Park  avenue  to 


158 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Bell  street ;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Bell  street  to 
Union  street ;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Union  street 
to  Pine  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Pine  street  and 
the  line  of  Pine  street  to  the  western  boundary  line  of  ward  1  in 
the  Blackstone  river;  northeasterly  along  said  ward  line  in  the 
Blackstone  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


Newport ; 
District. 


First 


Newport ; 
Second  Dis- 
trict. 


Sec.  9.— NEWPOPT. 

The  city  of  Newport  is  hereby  divided  into  five  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows : — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  at 
the  eastern  end  of  the  bridge  connecting  the  Island  of  Rhode 
Island  with  Coaster's  Harbor  Island,  extending  easterly  through 
the  center  of  the  highway  leading  from  said  bridge  to  Third 
street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Third  street  to  Dyre 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Dyre  street  to  Farewell 
street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Farewell  street  to  the 
line  of  Rutgers  street ;  easterly  through  the  line  of  and  the  cen- 
ter of  Rutgers  street  to  Halsey  street ;  southerly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Halsey  street  to  Van  Zandt  avenue;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Van  Zandt  avenue  to  Tilley  avenue ;  southerly  through 
the  center  of  Tilley  avenue  to  Gould  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Gould  street  to  Warner  street ;  southwest- 
erly through  the  center  of  AVarner  street  to  Thames  street; 
southerly  through  the  center  of  Thames  street  to  Bridge  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Bridge  street  and  the  line  of 
Bridge  street  to  the  harbor  line ;  northerly  along  the  harbor  line 
to  the  place  of  beginning.  This  district  shall  also  include  the 
No.  2  engine  house,  on  the  south  side  of  Bridge  street,  and 
Coaster's  Harbor  Island. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  shore  line  of 
Coddington  Cove  where  the  Middletown-Newport  boundary  line 
intersects  said  shore  line,  extending  southeasterly  along  the  Mid- 


I 


ELECTION    LAWS.  159 

■dletcyw'n-Xewport  boundary  line  to  the  line  of  the  road  to  the 
water  works:  westerly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of 
the  road  leading  to  the  water  works  to  Prairie  avenue;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Prairie  avenue  to  Kay  street; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  ot  Kay  street  to  Cranston  ave- 
nue; northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cranston  avenue  to 
Broadway;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Broadway  to  Oak 
street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Oak  street  to  West 
Broadway;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  West  Broadway 
to  Edward  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  ot  Edward 
street  to  Covell  street ;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Covell 
street  to  Sanford  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Sanford 
street  to  Thames  street ;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Thames 
street  to  Warner  street ;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  War- 
ner street  to  Gould  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Gould  street  to  Tilley  avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of 
Tilley  avenue  to  Van  Zandt  avenue ;  westerly  through  the  center 
of  Van  Zandt  avenue  to  Halsey  street;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Halsey  street  to  Rutgers  street;  westerly  through  the 
center  of  Rutgers  street  and  the  line  thereof  to  Farewell  street ; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Farewell  street  to  Dyre  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Dyre  street  to  Third  street ;  north- 
erly through  the  center  of  Third  street  to  the  highway  leading  to 
Coaster's  Harbor  Island;  westerly  along  said  highway  to  the 
bridge  leading  to  Coaster's  Harbor  Island;  thence  along  the 
shores  of  Xarragansett  Bay  and  Coddington  (;Ove  in  a  general 
northerly,  westerly,  northerly,  and  easterly  direction  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

(3)  The  Third  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^JJ^^jg^.^^ 
that  part  of  said  city  hounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  intersection  of  the  Middletown-Xewport  boundary  line  and 
the  line  of  the  road  to  water  works,  extending  southeasterly  along 
the  Middletown-Xewport  boundary  line  to  the  line  of  Old  Beach 
Road;  southwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of 
Old  Beach  Road  to  Mill  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of 


160  ELECTION   LAWS. 

Mill  street  to  Market  Square;  westerly  through  the  center  of 
Market  Square  to  Newman's  wharf;  westerly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Newman's  wharf  and  the  line  thereof  to  the  harbor  line; 
northerly  along  said  harbor  line  to  a  point  in  the  harbor  line  in 
the  line  of  Bridge  street ;  easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the 
center  of  Bridge  street  to  Thames  street ;  northerly  through  the 
center  of  Thames  street  to  Sanford  street;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Sanford  street  to  Covell  street;  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  Covell  street  to  Edwards  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Edwards  street  to  West  Broadway ;  north- 
easterly through  the  center  of  West  Broadway  to  Oak  street; 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Oak  street  to  Broadway; 
northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Broadway  to  Cranston  ave- 
nue; southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Cranston  avenue  to 
Kay  street;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Kay  street  to 
Prairie  avenue ;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Prairie  ave- 
nue to  the  road  to  water  works ;  southeasterly  and  northeasterly 
through, the  center  of  the  road  to  the  water  works  and  the  line 
thereof  to  the  place  of  beginning.  This  district  shall  also  include 
No.  1  engine  house  on  the  south  side  of  Mill  street^  and  Goat 
Island.  The  No.  2  engine  house  on  the  south  side  of  Bridge 
street  shall  be  excluded  from  this  district. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
where  the  line  of  Old  Beach  Road  extended  intersects  the  Mid- 
dletown-Newport  boundary  line,  extending  southeasterly  along 
the  Middletown-Newport  boundary  line  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean ; 
thence  by  said  Atlantic  Ocean  in  a  general  southerly,  easterly, 
and  westerly  direction  to  a  point  in  said  Atlantic  Ocean  in  the 
line  of  Bellevue  avenue ;  easterly  and  northerly  in  the  line  of  and 
through  the  center  of  Bellevue  avenue  to  Perry  street ;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  Perry  street  to  Spring  street;  northerly 
through  the  center  of  Spring  street  to  Pope  street;  westerly 
through  the  center  of  and  in  the  line  of  Pope  street  to  the  har- 
bor line ;  northerly  along  said  harbor  line  to  a  point  in  the  har- 


ELECTION   LAWS.  161 

bor  line  in  the  line  of  the  center  line  of  Newman's  wharf ;  east- 
erly in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Newman's  wharf 
to  Market  Square ;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Market  Square 
to  line  of  Mill  street ;  easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Mill  street  to  Old  Beach  Road;  easterly  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Old  Beach  Road  and  the  line  thereof  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. This  district  shall  exclude  the  No.  1  engine  house,  on 
the  south  side  of  Mill  street. 

(5)  The  Fifth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  p^fS^Dtotriot. 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  at 
the  intersection  of  Pope  street  and  Spring  street,  extending 
southerly  through  the  center  of  Spring  street  to  Perry  street; 
easterly  through  the  center  of  Perry  street  to  Bellevue  avenue; 
southerly  and  westerly  through  the  center  of  Bellevue  avenue  to 
the  Atlantic  Ocean;  thence  along  said  Atlantic  Ocean,  Narra- 
gansett  Bay,  and  the  Newport  harbor  line  in  a  general  westerly, 
northerly,  and  easterly  direction  to  the  intersection  of  the  New- 
port harbor  line  with  the  line  of  Pope  street ;  easterly  in  the  line 
of  and  through  the  center  of  Pope  street  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Sec.  10.— WARWICK. 

The  town  of  Warwick  is  hereby  divided  into  five  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)     The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  Warwick; 

Firet    Diftrict. 

that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  at 
the  intersection  of  the  Cranston-Warwick  boundary  line  with 
the  westerly  line  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by  the 
N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  on  the  Pawtuxet  river,  extending 
easterly  on  the  Cranston- Warwick  boundary  line  in  the  center 
of  the  Pawtuxet  river  to  Pawtuxet  cove ;  easterly  and  southerly 
through  the  center  of  the  Pawtuxet  cove  to  the  Providence  river ; 
southeasterly  along  the  westerly  harbor  line  of  the  Providence 
river  to  Narragansett  Bay;  southerly  and  southwesterly  along 
the  westerly  harbor  line  of  Narragansett  bay  to  Cowesett  bay; 
11 


162  ELECTION   LAWS. 

northwesterly  along  the  northerly  harbor  line  of  Cowesett  bay 
to  a  point  on  the  har*bor  line  in  the  line  of  Nausauket  avenue; 
northwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Nausau- 
ket  avenue  and  the  line  of  said  avenue  to  the  intersection  of  the 
East  Greenwich-Providence  road  and  the  westerly  line  of  the 
property  owned  and  operated  by  the  N".  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R. 
€o. ;  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  line  of  Rhode  Island  avenue 
(Lincoln  Park  Plat)  ;  nerthwesterly  in  the  line  of  and  through 
the  center  of  Rhode  Island  avenue  and  the  line  of  Rhode  Island 
avenue  to  the  Cranston-Warwick  boundary  line  in  the  Pawtuxet 
river;  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Cranston- Warwick  boundary  line  where  it  is  crossed  by  the 
Old  Hartford  R.  R.  Branch  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co., 
extending  easterly  and  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  line  of  Rhode 
Island  avenue;  southeasterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  cen- 
ter of  Rhode  Island  avenue  and  the  line  of  Rhode  Island  ave- 
nue to  the  westerly  line  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by 
the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.;  southerly  on  said  line  to  its 
intersection  with  the  Providence-East  Greenwich  road;  south 
easterly  in  the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  Nausauket  ave- 
nue and  the  line  of  said  avenue  to  Cowesett  bay ;  from  this  point 
the  boundary  line  of  Representative-District  No.  2  of  the  town 
of  Warwick  extends  through  Cowesett  bay  and  the  Potowomut 
river  in  a  general  southeasterly  and  westerly  direction  to  the 
intersection  of  the  North  Kingstown-East  Greenwich-Warwick 
boundary  lines;  thence  following  the  East  Greenwich- Warwick 
town  line  northeasterly  and  northerly  to  a  point  in  Greenwich 
cove  where  the  East  Greenwich-Warwick  boundary  line  runs  al- 
most due  west;  westerly  on  said  line  to  the  Rocky  Hill  road; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  the  Rocky  Hill  road  to  Quaker 
lane;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Quaker  lane  to  the  Cen- 
terville  road ;  westerly  through  the  center  of  said  road  to  the  New 
London  turnpike;  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  the  New 


ELECTION    LAWS.  163 

London  turnpike  to  the  Pawtuxet  river;  easterly  and  northerly 
through  tlie  center  of  tlie  Pawtuxet  river  to  its  intersection  with 
the  westerly  lines  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by  the 
N.  Y.,  N".  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  known  as  the  Old  Hartford  Branch; 
northerly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(3)  The  Third  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  Warwick; 
that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 

the  Cranston-Warwick  boundary  line  W'here  it  is  crossed  by  the 
western  line  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by  the  N.  Y., 
N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  known  as  the  .Old  Hartford  Branch,  ex- 
tending southerly. on  said  line  to  the  Pawtuxet  river;  southerly 
and  westerly  through  the  center  of  the  Pawtuxet  river  to  the 
New  London  turnpike;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of  the 
New  London  turnpike  to  the  tracks  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H. 
R.  R.  Co. ;  westerly  in  said  tracks  to  their  intersection  with  the 
tracks  of  the  Pawtuxet  Valley  Branch  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  R.  R.  Co.;  westerly  and  northwesterly  on  said  tracks  to 
Maple  avenue;  southwesterly  in  a  straight  line  to  the  intersec- 
tion of  Fairview  avenue  and  the  Coventry  boundary  line ;  north- 
erly on  said  boundary  line  to  the  Cranston  city  line ;  easterly  on 
said  city  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  Warwick; 

...       Fourth  Dia- 

that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  m  trict. 
the  Coven  try- Warwick  boundary  line  where  Fairview  avenue 
enters  the  town,  extending  in  a  straight  line  northeasterly  to  the 
intersection  of  Maple  avenue  and  the  tracks  of  the  Pawtuxet 
Valley  Branch  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  southeasterly 
and  easterly  along  said  line  to  its  intersection  with  the  westerly 
line  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  R.  R.  Co.,  known  as  the  Old  Hartford  Branch,  easterly  along 
said  line  to  the  New  London  turnpike;  southwesterly  through 
the  center  of  the  New  London  turnpike  to  a  point  where  a  line 
drawn  due  west  will  meet  the  intersection  of  the  River  road  and 
the  westerly  line  of  the  property  owned  and  operated  by  the 
N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  known  as  the  Old  Hartford 


164  ELECTION    LAWS. 

Branch;  westerly  on  said  line  drawn  due  west  to  the  westerly 
line  of  said  railroad  property ;' southwesterly  on  the  said  line  to 
Central  street;  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  Central 
street  to  Quidnick  street;  southwesterly  through  the  center  of 
Quidnick  street  to  Crawford  street;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Crawford  street  to  McNiff  street;  northerly  through 
the  center  of  McNiff  street  to  Shippee  street;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Shippee  etreet  to  the  Coventry  line;  northerly 
along  the  Coventry- Warwick  boundary  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 
Warwick;  (5)     The   Fifth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 

Fifth   District.  ^     ^  ^ 

that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
in  the  Coventry-Warwick  boundary  line  where  Shippee  street 
enters  the  town,  extending  easterly  through  the  center  of  Shippee 
street  to  McNiff  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  McNiff 
street  to  Crawford  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Crawford  street  to  Quidnick  street;  northeasterly  through  the 
center  of  Quidnick  street  to  Central  street;  southeasterly 
through  the  center  of  Central  street  to  the  westerly  line  of  the 
property  owned  and  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  li.  E.  R. 
Co.,  known  as  the  Old  Hartford  Branch  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  R.  R.  Co. ;  northeasterly  on  said  line  to  its  intersection  with 
the  River  road ;  thence  due  east  on  a  line  drawn  from  said  inter- 
section to  the  New  London  turnpike;  southwesterly  through  the 
center  of  the  New  London  turnpike  to  the  Centerville-Apponaug 
road;  easterly  through  the  center  of  the  Centerville-Apponaug 
road  to  Quaker  lane;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Quaker 
lane  to  the  Rocky  Hill  road;  southerly  through  the  center  of 
Rocky  Hill  road  to  the  Warwick-East  Greenwich  boundary 
line;  westerly  on  said  line  to  the  Coventry-Warwick  boundary 
line ;  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  165 


Sec.  11.—  CENTRAL  FALLS. 

The  city  of  Central  Falls  is  hereby  divided  into  five  repre- 
sentative-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The   First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of   all  ^t'^LE*}^* 

First    Difltrict. 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  center  of  Washington  street  opposite  Foundry  street,  ex- 
tending easterly  through  the  center  of  Foundry  street  to  the 
easterly  line  of  ,the  property  operated  by  the  N".  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  R.  R.  Co.;  northeasterly  along  said  line  to  the  Pawtucket- 
Central  Falls  boundary  line  in  the  Blackstone  river ;  southerly 
along  said  line  to  the  southerly  boundary  line  of  the  city  of 
Central  Falls ;  westerly  along  said  line  to  Hawes  street ;  northerly 
through  the  center  of  Hawes  street  to  Central  street;  easterly 
through  the  center  of  Central  street  to  Washington  street; 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Washington  street  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  central  Faii»: 

Second  Di«- 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  tnct, 
the  Blackstone  river  where  Broad  street  crosses  the  Cumber- 
land-Central Falls  boundary  line;  extending  easterly  and  south- 
easterly along  said  line  to  its  intersection  with  the  easterly 
line  of  the  property  operated  by  the  N.  Y.,  N".  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. ; 
southwesterly  on  said  line  to  Foundry  street;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Foundry  street  to  Washington  street;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Washington  street  to  Lincoln 
avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Lincoln  avenue  to  Acorn 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Acorn  street  to  Chestnut 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Chestnut  street  to  Broad 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Broad  street  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

(3)  The  Third  Representative  District  shall  consist  of  all  central  Faii«; 

^    ^  ^  _        ,       Third  District. 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  center  of  Pine  street  opposite  Richardson  street,  extending 


166 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Central    Falls; 
Fourth  Dis- 
trict. 


Central    Falls ; 
Fifth    District. 


easterly  through  the  center  of  Eichardson  street  to  Dexter 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  Darling 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Darling  street  to  Fuller 
avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Fuller  avenue  to  Sum- 
ner avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Sumner  avenue  to 
Illinois  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Illinois  street  to 
Beacon  street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Beacon  street  to 
Washington  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Washington 
street  to  Central  street ;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Central 
street  to  Hawes  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Hawes 
street  to  the  southern  boundary  line  of  the  city  of  Central  Falls ; 
westerly  on  said  line  to  Pine  street;  northwesterly  through  the 
center  of  Pine  street  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(4)  The  Fourth  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  Blackstone  river  where  Broad  street  intersects  the  Cumber- 
land-Central Falls  boundary  line;  extending  southerly  through 
the  center  of  Broad  street  to  C/hestnut  street;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Chestnut  street  to  Acorn  street ;  southerly  through 
the  center  of  Acorn  street  to  Lincoln  avenue;  westerly  through 
the  center  of  Lincoln  avenue  to  Washington  street;  southerly 
through  the  center  of  Washington  street  to  Beacon  street; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Beacon  street  to  Illinois  street, 
northerly  through  the  center  of  Illinois  street  to  Sumner  avenue; 
westerly  through  the  center  of  Sumner  avenur  to  Fuller  avenue, 
southerly  through  the  center  of  Fuller  avenue  to  Darling 
street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Darling  street  to  Dexter 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  Hunt 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Hunt  street  to  Liberty 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Liberty  street  to  Etna 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Etna  street  to  Valley 
Falls  pond ;  northerly  along  the  shore  of  Valley  Falls  pond  to  the 
Cumberland-Central  Falls  boundary  line;  easterly  along  said 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(5)  The   Fifth  Representative-District  shall   consist  of  all 


JiLECTION    LAWS.  167 

that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
where  the  boundary  lines  of  Lincoln,  Central  Falls,  and  Paw- 
tucket  intersect,  extending  northerly  and  northeasterly  on  the 
westerly  boundary  line  of  the  city  of  Central  Falls  to  Valley 
Falls  pond ;  southeasterly  along  the  shores  of  Valley  Falls  pond 
to  Etna  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Etna  street  to 
Liberty  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Liberty  street 
to  Hunt  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Hant  street  to 
Dexter  street;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to 
Richardson  street;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Eichardson 
street  to  Pine  street ;  southerly  through  the  center  of  Pine  street 
to  the  southern  boundary  line  of-  the  city  of  Central  Falls; 
westerly  along  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Sec.  12.—  CRANSTON. 

The  city  of  Cranston  is  hereby  divided  into  four  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  of  the  city  of  Cranston  Cranston; 

First  District. 

shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line 
beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Providence-Cranston  boundary 
line  where  the  Elmville  brook  intersects  Park  avenue,  and  ex- 
tending in  a  general  southeasterly,  northeasterly,  and  easterly 
direction  with  said  Porvidence-Cranston  boundary  line  to  the 
harbor  line  in  Narragansett  bay;  southerly  with  said  harbor 
line  to  Pawtuxet  cove ;  in  a  general  westerly  direction  through 
said  Pawtuxet  cove  and  with  the  center  of  Pawtuxet  river  to  a 
point  where  said  Elmville  brook  enters  said  Pawtuxet  river; 
northerly  with  the  center  of  said  Elmville  brook  to  the  point  of 
beginning. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  of  the  city  of  Crans-  ch-anston; 
ton  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line  triS° 
beginning  at  a  point  in  the  Providence-Cranston  boundary  line 
where  said  line  is  intresected  by  Reservoir  avenue,  and  extend- 
ing easterly  and  southerly  with  said  Providence-Cranston  bound- 


168  ELECTION   LAAVS. 

ary  line  to  a  point  where  Elmville  brook  intersects  said  Provi- 
dence-Cranston boundary  line  at  Park  avenue;  southerly  with 
the  center  of  said  Elmville  brook  to  the  Pawtuxet  river;  westerly 
and  southerly  with  the  center  of  said  Pawtuxet  river  and  the 
Warwick-Cranston  boundary  line  to  a  point  where  said  Warwick- 
Cranston  boundary  line  is  intersected  by  Pontiac  avenue; 
*  northerly  with  the  center  of  said  Pontiac  avenue  to  a  point 
where  said  Pontiac  avenue  is  intersected  by  the  line  of  the 
New  York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad  Co.,  at  Howard; 
northerly  in  a  direct  line  across  the  lands  of  the  State  Institu- 
tions to  a  point  in  the  center  of  the  New  London  turnpike 
fifteen  hundred  feet  southwesterly  of  Sockanosset  cross  road; 
northeasterly  with  the  center  of  said  New  London  turnpike  to  a 
point  where  said  turnpike  intersects  said  Sockanosset  cross 
road;  northerly  with  the  center  of  said  Sockanosset  cross  road 
to  its  junction  with  Reservoir  avenue;  northeasterly  with  the 
center  of  said  Reservoir  avenue  to  the  point  of  beginning. 

Oranston;  (3)     The  Third  Representative-District  of  the  city  of  Crans- 

Tbird  District.  .  . 

ton  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  city  bounded  by  a  line 
beginning  at  a  point  in  the  Cranston- Johnston  boundary  line 
where  the  outlet  to  Dyer^s  pond  connects  with  the  Pocasset 
river,  and  extending  northerly  and  easterly  with  said  Cranston- 
Johnston  boundary  line  to  its  junction  with  the  Providence- 
Cranston  boundary  line ;  easterly  and  southerly  with  said  Provi- 
dence-Cranston boundary  line  to  a  point  where  said  Providence- 
Cranston  boundary  line  is  intersected  by  Reservoir  avenue; 
southwesterly  with  the  center  of  said  Reservoir  avenue  to  a 
point  where  it  is  intersected  by  the  Pocasset  river;  northerly 
with  the  center  of  said  Pocasset  river  to  a  point  in  the  center 
of  Cranston  street;  northwesterly  with  the  center  of  said  Crans- 
ton street  to  a  point  half  way  between  said  Cranston  street  and 
Haven  avenue;  westerly  in  a  direct  line  running  half  way  be- 
tween said  Haven  avenue  and  Cranston  street  across  said 
Cranston  street  to  the  southerly  boundary  line  of  St.  Ann's 
cemetery;  with  said  southerly  boundary  line  of  St.  Ann's  ceme- 


ELECTION    LAWS.  1G9 

tery  to  the  center  of  RandalPs  pond;  with  the  center  of  Ran- 
dall's pond  and  Dyer's  pond  to  the  point  of  beginning. 

(4)     The  Fourth  Representative-District  of  the  city  of  Crans-  oranston; 

•^  Fourth    Dia- 

ton  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  city  westerly  of  a  line  *'"^*=*- 
'extending  from  a  point  in  the  Crans  ton- Johns  ton  boundary  line 
where  the  outlet  to  Dyer's  pond  connects  with  the  Pocasset 
river,  thence  southerly  with  the  center  of  said  Dyer's  pond  and 
Randall's  pond  to  a  point  in  a  line  with  the  southerly  boundary 
of  St.  Ann's  cemetery;  easterly  with  the  southerly  boundary 
line  of  St.  Ann's  cemetery  across  Cranston  street  in  a  direct 
line  running  half  way  between  said  Cranston  street  and  Haven 
avenue  to  a  point  in  the  center  of  said  Cranston  street;  south- 
easterly with  the  center  of  said  Cranston  street  to  a  point 
where  said  Cranston  street  is  intersected  by  the  Pocasset  river; 
southerly  with  the  center  of  said  Pocasset  river  to  a  point  where 
said  Pocasset  river  intersects  Reservoir  avenue;  southwesterly 
with  the  center  of  said  Reservoir  avenue  to  the  junction  of  said 
Reservoir  avenue  and  Sockanosset  cross  road;  southerly  with 
the  center  of  said  Sockanosset  cross  road  to  a  point  where  siid 
Sockanosset  cross  road  is  intersected  by  the  New  London  turn- 
pike; southwesterly  with  the  center  of  said  turnpike  to  a  point 
fifteen  hundred  feet  from  said  Sockanosset  cross  road ;  southerly 
in  a  direct  line  across  the  lands  of  the  State  Institutions  to  a 
point  where  the  lines  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford 
Railroad  Co.  intersect  Pontiac  avenue  at  Howard;  southerly 
with  the  center  of  said  Pontiac  avenue  to  the  Warwick- Crans- 
ton boundary  line. 

Sec.  13.— east  PROVIDENCE. 

The  town  of  East  Providence  is  hereby  divided  into  three 
representative-districts,  bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 
^(1)     The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  gjjg?~.]j;j 
that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  First  'District 
the  Seekonk  river  where  the  Pawtucket-East  Providence  bound- 


170  ELECTION   LAWS. 

ary  lines  intersect,  extending  easterly  on  the  Pawtucket-East 
Providence  line  to  the  Massachusetts-Rhode  Island  boundary 
line;  southerly  on  said  boundary  line  to  Taunton  avenue; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Taunton  avenue  to  a  point 
opposite  the  eastern  line  of  the  East  Providence  town  hall; 
southerly  along  the  easterly  line  of  said  town  hall  to  a  point 
opposite  the  center  of  the  east  and  west  line  of  said  town  hall; 
westerly  in  the  line  of  and  on  the  said  line  through  the  center 
of  said  town  hall  to  the  westerly  line  of  said  town  hall ;  north- 
erly on  the  westerly  line  of  said  town  hall  to  Taunton  avenue ; 
southwesterly  througli  the  center  of  Taunton  avenue  to  Walnut 
street;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Walnut  street  to  Water- 
man avenue;  westerly  through  the  center  of  Waterman  avenue 
to  the  Providence-East  Providence  boundary  line  in  the  See- 
konk  river;  northerly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

East  Provi-  (2)     The  Sccoud  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 

/dencte;     Second  . 

District.  that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 

the  Seekonk  river  at  the  intersection  of  the  Providence-East 
Providence  boundary  line  and  Waterman  avenue,  extending 
southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Waterman  avenue  to  Walnut 
street;  southwesterly  through  tlie  center  of  Walnut  street  to 
Taunton  avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Taunton 
avenue  to  the  line  of  the  westerly  line  of  the  East  Providence 
town  hall ;  southerly  along  said  line  to  a  point  opposite  the 
center  of  the  east  and  west  line  of  said  town  hall ;  easterly  in  the 
line  of  and  on  said  line  through  the  center  of  said  town  hall  to 
the  easterly  line  of  said  town  hall;  northerly  in  the  easterly 
line  of  said  town  hall  to  Taunton  avenue;  easterly  through  the 
center  of  Taunton  avenue  to  Broadway;  southerly  through  the 
center  of  Broadway  to  a  point  where  it  crosses  the  inlet  of 
Watchemoket  cove ;  southerly  through  said  inlet  and  Watche- 
moket  cove  to  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  outlet  of  Watche- 
moket cove;  due  west  on  the  line  of  and  through  said  outlet  to 
the  Ea-st  Providence  town  line  in  Narragansett  bay;  northerly 
and  northeasterly  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  171 

(3)  The  Third  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist  of  all  dl^ce^iiJird 
that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  ^^^t"*^*. 
the  Rhode  Island-Massachusetts  state  line  where  Taunton 
avenue  enters  the  town,  extending  southerly  on  said  state  line 
to  its  intersection  with  the  East  Providence-Barrington  bound- 
ary line;  westerly  on  the  East  Providence-Barrington  bound- 
ary line  to  the  East  Providence  town  line  in  Narragansett 
bay ;  northwesterly  on  said  town  line  to  a  point  in  said  liiie  due 
east  of  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  outlet  of  Watchemoket 
cove;  easterly  on  the  line  of  and  through  said  outlet  to  Watche- 
moket cove;  northerly  through  said  cove  and  the  inlet  to  said 
cove  to  where  said  inlet  is  crossed  by  Broadway.;  northerly 
through  the  center  of  Broadway  to  Taunton  avenue;  easterly 
through  the  center  of  Taunton  avenue  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Sec.  14.—  CUMBEELAND. 

The  town  of  Cumberland  is  hereby  divided  into  two  repre- 
sentative-Districts, bounded  and   described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The   First   Representative-District  shall  consist   of   all  ^™t^^jj?'i^'' . 
that  part  of  said  town  lying  south  of  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 

in  the  center  of  Dexter  street  on  the  Massachusetts-Rhode  Island 
state  line  where  Dexter  street  enters  the  town,  extending  west- 
erly through  the  center  of  Dexter  street  to  Broad  street;  north- 
westerly through  the  center  of  Broad  street  to  Cross  street; 
southwesterly  through  the  center  of  Cross  street  and  the  line  of 
Cross  street  extended  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  town 
of  Cumberland  and  the  town  of  Lincoln  in  the  Blackstone 
river. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  g^S^Jl'^gl^/ 
that  part  of  the  town  of  Cumberland  not  included  in  the  first  *"*^*- 
representative-district  of  said  town. 


172 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Sec.  15.— LmCOLN. 


Linooln ; 
District. 


First 


Linooln;    Sec- 
ond  District. 


The  town  of  Lincoln  is  hereby  divided  into  two  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows : — 

(1)  The  First  Eepresentative-District  of  said  town  shall 
consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  town  lying  north  of  a  line  begin- 
ning at  a  point  in  the  center  of  the  Ashton  bridge  over  the  Black- 
stone  river  on  the  Lincoln-Cumberland  boundary  line,  extending 
westerly  to  a  point  opposite  a  road  formerly  called  "  Chestnut 
Tree  Lane  "  and  more  often  "  Stony  Lane/'  in  the  center  of  the 
highway  called  the  Great  Eoad  or  Smithfield  avenue;  northerly 
through  the  center  of  said  Great  Eoad  or  Smithfield  avenue  to 
the  junction  of  said  Great  Eoad  and  Louisquisset  pike;  south- 
westerly to  the  stone  post  on  the  Lincoln- Smithfield  boundary 
line  standing  just  north  of  the  point  where  the  Wilbur  road  in 
said  town  of  Lincoln  crosses  the  Smithfield  line. 

(2)  The  Second  Eepresentataive-District  of  said  town  shall 
consist  of  all  that  part  of  the  said  town  of  Lincoln  not  included 
in  the  first  representative-district  of  said  town. 

Sec.  16.— WE  STEELY. 

(As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  927,  Public  Laws.) 


I 


Westerly; 
Firgt    District. 


The  town  of  Westerly  is  hereby  divided  into  two  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows : — 


(1)  The  First  Eepresentative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  said  town  lying  north  and  west  of  a  line  beginning 
at  a  point  on  the  bridge  over  the  Pawcatuck  river  on  the  E^hode 
Island-Connecticut  boundary  line  in  the  center  of  Broad  street, 
extending  southeasterly  through  the  center  of  Broad  street  till 
it  comes  to  a  point  opposite  the  center  of  the  building  on  said 
Broad  street  belonging  to  the  town  of  Westerly  and  the  State 
of  Ehode  Island;  thence  southerly  through  the  center  of  said 
building  to  the  dividing  line  between  the  part  of  said  building 


ELECTION   LAWS.  173 

used  by  the  town  of  Westerly  and  the  part  of  said  building  used 
by  the  State  of  Ehode  Island;  easterly  along  said  dividing  line 
to  the  easterly  boundary  of  the  lot  of  land  belonging  to  said  town 
of  Westerly  and  said  State  of  Rhode  Island;  northerly  to  the 
center  of  Broad  street;  southeasterly  through  the  center  of 
Broad  street  to  Granite  street;  northeasterly  and  northerly 
through  the  center  of  Granite  street  to  Tower  street;  easterly 
and  northeasterly  through  the  center  of  Tower  street  to  Oak 
street;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Oak  street  to  its  junction 
with  the  Old  Man  tic  road,  so-called;  northeasterly  through 
the  center  of  said  road  to  the  tracks  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H. 
R.  R.  Co.;  easterly  on  said  tracks  to  the  brook  flowing  from 
Chapman's  pond  into  the  Pawcatuck  river;  through  said  brook 
in  a  general  easterly  directeion  to  the  Hopkinton-Westerly 
boundary  line  in  the  Pawcatuck  river;  thence  following  the 
Hopkinton-Westerly  boundary  line  in  a  general  easterly  direc- 
tion to  the  Charlestown-Westerly  boundary  line. 

(2)     The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^^J^J^^j. 
that  part  of  the  town  of  Westerly  not  included  in  the  first  repre-  t"ct. 
sentative-district  of  said  town. 


Sec.  17.— BRISTOL. 

The  town  of  Bristol  is  hereby  divided  into  two  representa- 
tive-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows: — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all  ^jjjjg^  ^'^ 
that  part  of  said  town  bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in 
the  harbor  line  in  the  southerly  line  of  High  street ;  northerly  in 
the  line  of  and  through  the  center  of  High  street  to  Bayview 
avenue;  easterly  through  the  center  of  Bayview  avenue  to 
Metacom  avenue;  northerly  through  the  center  of  Metacom 
avenue  to  the  road  leading  to  the  Hopeworth  sanatorium,  and 
the  line  thereof  to  the  harbor  line  in  Mount  Hope  bay ;  southerly 
southwesterly,  northwesterly,  and  northerly  along  said  harbor 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


174 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Bristol ; 
Second  Dis- 
trict. 


(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  shall  consist  of  all 
that  part  of  the  town  of  Bristol  not  included  in  the  first  repre- 
sentative-district of  said  town. 


Sec.  18.—  BUERILiLA' ILLE. 


Burrillville; 
First  District. 


Burrillville; 
Second    Dia- 

trict. 


Seciletary  of 
state  to  pre- 
pare list  of 
senators- elect 
and    representa- 
tives-elect 
from  qertificate 
of  state  re- 
turning-board. 


The  town  of  Burrillville  is  hereby  divided  into  two  represen- 
tative-districts, bounded  and  described  as  follows  : — 

(1)  The  First  Representative-District  of  the  town  of  Burrill- 
ville shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  town  lying  west  and 
south  of  a  line  drawn  from  a  point  in  the  Rhode  Island-Massa- 
chusetts state  line  where  the  line  of  the  first  voting-district  of 
the  town  of  Burrillville  crosses  said  line,  extending  southeasterly 
in  the  line  of  said  voting-district  to  a  point  on  said  line  where  a 
line  drawn  almost  due  east  intersects  the  southerly  line  of  the 
property  operated  by  the  ^ew  York,  j^ew  Haven  and  Hartford 
Railroad  Co.,  known  as  the  Old  Providence  and  Springfield 
Branch,  directly  opposite  Whipple's  mill;  southeasterly  along 
the  southerly  line  of  said  railroad  property  to  its  intersection 
with  the  branch  of  Tarkiln  brook  flowing  southeasterly  into 
said  brook;  southeasterly  along  said  branch  to  Tarkiln  brook; 
southwesterly  along  Tarkiln  brook  to  the  Glocester-Burrill- 
ville  boundary  line;  westerly  along  said  boundary  line  to  the 
Rhode  Island-Connecticut  boundary  line;  northerly  along  said 
boundary  line  to  the  Massachusetts-Rhode  Island  boundary 
line ;  easterly  along  said  boundary  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

(2)  The  Second  Representative-District  of  the  town  of 
Burrillville  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  town  not  included 
in  the  first  representative-district. 

Sec.  19.  (As  amended  by  Section  34,  Chapter  640,  and 
Section  1,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.)  The  secretary  of  state 
shall  receive  and  examine  the  certificates  of  election  of  senators 
and  representatives  to  the  general  assembly  returned  to  his  office 
by  the  state  returning-board,  and  shall  make  separate  lists  of 
the  persons  therein  named  as  elected  to  the  offices  of  senators 


ELECTIOX    LAWS.  ]  75 

and  representatives,  respectively.  In  case  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  January,  A.  D.  1915,  and  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  January,  biennially,  thereafter,  there  shall  be 
no  such  certificate  received  by  the  secretary  of  state  of  the 
election  of  senator,  representative,  or  representatives,  or  either 
or  any  of  them,  from  any  city  or  town,  the  secretary  of  state  shall 
also  place  on  said  lists,  respectively,  the  names  of  the  persons 
then  holding  the  offices  for  which  there  is  no  certificate  returned 
or  received  as  aforesaid  of  the  election  of  any  other  person  to 
said  office. 

Sec.    20.     (As   amended   by   Section   34,   Chapter   640,   and  Secretary  of 
Section  2,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.)     At  or  before  twelve  to  clerk  of 

house   certified 

o'clock,  noon,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  January,  A.  D.  1915,  and  "s*  of  repre- 

•^  -^^  '  BentativeB-elect. 

on  the  first  Tuesday  in  January,  biennially,  thereafter,  the  secre- 
tary of  state  shall  certify  and  deliver  to  the  reading-clerk  of  the 
house  of  representatives  the  list  of  persons,  made  up  as  provided 
in  the  preceding  section  of  this  chapter,  entitled  to  seats  in  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  shall  certify  and  retain  in  his  pos- 
session the  list  of  persons,  made  up  as  aforesaid,  entitled  to 
seats  in  the  senate. 

Sec.  21.     In  case  any  person  whose  name  does  not  appear  Liata  of  sena- 

•  T    I'  1     T-,  1  1-  T  f,  tors-elect  and 

on  said  list  shall,  upon  the  calling  to  order  as  hereinafter  pro-  representa- 

tives-elect  may 

vided  of  said  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  respectively,  ^^  corrected  by 
and  before  organization,  present  to  the  secretary  of  state  a  cer-  S'^ou^^^b^ore 
tificate  of  such  person's  election  to  the  office  of  senator  or  repre-  uSST^^Senta- 
sentative,  over  the  signatures  of  the  state  returning-board,  and  Jertmcate.^^^'^ 
there  being  no  such  certificate  of  the  election  of  any  other  per- 
son to  said  office  returned  to  or  received  by  the  secretary  of  state 
as  aforesaid,  the  secretary  of  sta{e  in  the  senate,  and  the  read- 
ing-clerk in  the  house  of  representataives,  shall  correct  said  lists, 
respectively,  by  placing  thereon  the  name  of  such  person  pre- 
senting said  certificate  as  senator  or  representative,  as  the  case 
may  be,  from  the  city,  town,  or  representative-district  which  it 
appears  by  said  certificate  he  is  entitled  to  represent,  and  by 
erasing  from  the  list  whereon  it  appears  the  name  of  the  person 


176 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Places  of 
absent  senators- 
elect,   how  to 
elect  and  rep- 
resentatives- 
be  filled  on  first 
PoU-call. 


Who  to  par- 
ticipate during 
organization    of 
senate   and 
house. 


Date   of    first 
meeting  of  sen- 
ate and  house 
birainially. 


Proceedings  to 
be  observed  in 
organizing  the 
senate. 


previously  placed  thereon  as  senator  or  representative  by  reason 
of  no  certificate  of  the  election  of  any  person  to  said  office  having 
been  received  by  the  secretary  of  state. 

Sec.  22.  In  case  any  person  whose  name  appears  upon 
either  of  said  lists  made  up  by  the  secretary  of  state  as  aforesaid 
as  senator  or  representative  from  any  city,  town,  or  representa- 
tive-district, by  virtue  of  any  certificate  of  election  returned  to 
the  office  of  or  received  by  the  secretary  of  state  as  aforesaid, 
shall  not  be  present  at  the  time  of  calling  the  roll  of  members  as 
hereinafter  provided,  the  said  list  bearing  the  name  of  such  per- 
son shall  be  further  corrected,  by  the  secretary  of  state  in  the 
senate  and  the  reading-clerk  in  the  house  of  representatives, 
by  substituting  therefor  the  name  of  the  person  then  holding 
said  office. 

Sec  23.  The  persons  whose  names  appear  upon  said  lists 
made  up  and  corrected  as  hereinbefore  provided,  and  no  others, 
shall  be  entitled  to  participate  in  the  organization  of  the  senate 
and  house  of  representatives,  respectively. 

Sec.  24.  (As  amended  by  Section  34,  Chapter  640,  and 
Section  3,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.)  On  the  first  Tuesday 
in  January,  A.  D.  1915,  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  and  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  January,  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  biennially,  there- 
after, the  persons  whose  names  are  borne  on  the  respective  lists 
aforesaid  shall  be  admitted  to  take  seats  as  members  of  the 
senate  and  house  of  representatives,  respectively,  and  such  per- 
sons shall  assemble  at  said  time  in  their  respective  chambers 
at  Providence  and  take  their  engagement  of  office  before  the 
secretary  of  state,  attorney-general,  or  some  person  authorized 
by  law  to  administer  oaths. 

Sec.  25.  (As  amended  by  Section  34,  Chapter  640,  and 
Section  4,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.)  At  the  time  specified 
in  section  twenty-four  of  this  chapter,  the  senate  shall  be  called 
to  order  by  the  lieutenant-governor,  or  in  his  absence  by  the 
secretary  of  state.  The  roll  of  members  as  appears  by  said  list 
of  senators  shall  then  be  called  by  the  clerk,  and  said  list  shall 


ELECTION    LAWS.  177 

be  corrected  by  the  secretary  of  state  as  hereinbefore  provided. 

In  the  absence  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  the  senate  shall  then 

proceed  to  elect  one  of  their  members  to  preside.     If  twenty  of 

the  members  whose  names  appear  upon  said  lists  are  present, 

but  not  otherwise,  the  senate  then  shall  organize  by  electing  a  senate  to  elect 

clerk,  and  shall  forthwith  notify  said  house  of  representatives  Sify'^uge  of 

that  it  is  duly  organized  and  ready  to  proceed  with  the  business  tiJn?'*^*"^' 

of  the  session.     Said  clerk  shall  hold  office  for  two  years,  and 

until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.   26.     (As   amended   by   Section   34,   Chapter   640,   and  Proceedings  to 
Section  5,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.)     At  the  time  specified  organM^^ th? 

house  of  repro- 

in  Section  24  of  this  chapter  the  house  of  representatives  shall  senative*. 
be  called  to  order  by  the  senior  member  in  continuous  service 
present  from  Newport,  and  if  there  be  two  or  more  members 
from  Newport  of  equal  seniority  of  service,  then  by  that  one  of 
them  who  shall  be  senior  in  age,  and,  if  there  is  no  member 
present  from  Newport,  by  the  senior  member  of  said  house  in 
continuous  service  present,  and,  if  there  be  two  or  more  members 
of  equal  seniority  of  service,  then  by  that  one  of  them  who  shall 
be  senior  in  age.     The  roll  of  members  as  appears  by  said  list 
of  representatives  shall  then  be  called  by  the  reading  clerk,  and  Speaker,  how 
said  list  shall  be  corrected  by  the  reading  clerk,  as  hereinbefore 
provided.     If  it  shall  appear  that  fifty-one  of  the  members  whose 
names  are  upon  said  list  are  present,  but  not  otherwise,  the  mem- 
ber calling  the  house  of  representatives  to  order  as  hereinbefore 
provided  shall  call  for  nominations  for  the  office  of  speaker,  and 
shall  receive  the  ballots  of  the  members  whose  names  are  on  said 
list  for  that  office,  and  after  said  ballots  have  been  counted  by 
him  and  by  the  clerks  of  said  house,  he  shall  declare  the  result 
and  the  balloting  shall  continue  until  some  person  shall  receive 
a  majority  of  all  the  ballots  cast,  and  the  person  receiving  sucli 
majority  shall  be  the  speaker  of  said  house  for  the  ensuing  term 
of  two  years.     The  member  so  calling  said  house  to  order  shall 

not  receive,  entertain,  or  put  to  vote,  any  motion  or  question  Penalty  for 

.  .   .         ^         violating  pro- 

whatever,  or  point  of  order,  while  acting  as  presiding  officer,  vimon*  of  thi« 

12 


178 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Clerks  to  be 
elected   by 
house,   and  sen- 
ate notified  of 
organization. 


Each  house 
has  power  to 
fill  vacancies 
in  its  offices. 

Grand  commit- 
tee to  meet   at 
once  after  or- 
ganization   for 
purpose  of  in- 
ducting general 
officers  into 
office. 


Certified  list  of 
senators  and 
representatives 
to  remain  in 
force  until 
changed  by 
vote  of  respec- 
tive houses. 

Penalty  for 
failure  to  make 
up  and  correct 
lists  of  senators 
and    representa- 
tives  as  pro- 
vided in  this 
■chapter. 


and  any  such  member  violating  any  of  the  foregoing  provisions 
of  this  section,  or  allowing  any  person  whose  name  is  not  upon 
said  list  to  participate  in  the  organization  of  said  house  or  to 
cast  any  ballot  for  speaker,  or  who  shall  allow  to  be  used  in 
the  organization  of  said  house  any  list  of  members  not  prepared 
and  corrected  as  provided  in  this  chapter,  shall  be  imprisoned 
not  less  than  one  year  nor  more  than  three  years ;  and  any  clerk 
or  other  person  who  shall  use  any  such  list  in  the  organization 
of  such  house,  or  who  shall  fraudulently  alter,  secrete  or  destroy 
any  list  of  members,  prepared,  or  prepared  and  corrected,  as 
hereinbefore  provided,  shall  be  punished  by  like  imprisonment. 
Immediately  upon  the  election  of  a  speaker,  the  house  of 
representatives  shall  proceed  to  elect  by  ballot  a  reading  clerk 
and  a  recording  clerk,  and  upon  the  election  of,  a  speaker  and 
clerks  as  herein  provided,  said  house  shall  be  deemed  to  be 
organized  and  shall  forthwith  notify  the  senate  that  it  is  duly 
organized  and  ready  to  proceed  with  the  business  of  the  session. 
Said  clerks  shall  hold  office  for  two  years,  and  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.   27.     The  respective   houses   may   fill   vacancies   in   the 
said  offices  as  they  occur. 

Sec.  28.  Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  senate 
and  house  of  representatives  and  notice  thereof  as  aforesaid,' 
the  senate  shall  join  the  house  of  representatives  in  grand 
committee,  for  the  purpose  of  inducting  the  persons  elected  into 
their  respective  offices,  and  of  electing  general  officers  in  case 
of  a  failure  to  elect  by  the  electors  at  the  general  election. 

Sec.  29.  "The  list  of  members  of  the  senate  and  of  the  house* 
of  representatives  prepared  and  corrected  as  herein  provided, 
shall  continue  to  be  the  lists  of  members  of  the  senate  and  of 
said  house,  respectively,  until  altered  by  vote  of  the  respective 
houses,  and  any  secretary  of  state  who  shall  willfully  fail  to 
prepare  and  correct  such  lists  according  to  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter,  or  to  do  any  other  thing  in  relation  to  such  lists  herein 
provided  to  be  done  by  him,  or  who  shall  fraudulently  place 


ELECTION    LAWS.  •  j  79 

upon  any  of  such  lists  the  name  of  any  person  not  provided  here- 
in to  be  placed  thereon,  or  who  shall  fraudulently  neglect  to  place 
upon  any  of  such  lists  the  name  of  any  person  so  entitled  to  be 
placed  thereon,  shall  be  imprisoned  not  less  than  one  nor  more 
than  three  years. 

Sec.    30.     The    foreffoinsr    provisions    of    this    chapter    are  Provisions  of 

^  this   chapter 

mandatory  and  not  merely  directory.  mandatory. 

Sec.   31.     The  attendance   of   senators-elect  and   representa-  Attendance  of 

^  senators-elect 

tives-elect,  and  of  senators  and  representatives,  may  be  com-  ^F^^  representa- 
pelled  by  warrant  for  that  purpose  under  the  hand  of  the  pre-  ^®  compelled. 
Biding  officer  for  the  time  being  of  the  senate  or  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, as  the  case  may  be,  directed  to  any  sheriff  or  deputy- 
sheriff,  which  warrant  may  be  executed  by  such  officer  in  any 
county. 

Sec.   32.     Senators  and  representatives  not  present  at  the  senators  and 

^  ^  representative* 

first  meeting  of  the  respective  houses  shall,  after  presenting  the  ^^ization^to 
evidence  of  their  election,  take  the  engagement  of  office  before  ^mt  Sfl 
they  shall  act  in  their  respective  offices.  offlS 

Sec.  33.     The  following  shall  be  the  form  of  engagement  to  Form  of  en- 
gagement to  be 
be   taken   by   the   senators   and    representataives : — You    being  taken  by  sena- 

"^  ^  °    tors  and  repre- 

chosen  to  the  place  of  [naming  the  office]  in  the  general  assembly,  "entativea. 
do  solemnly  swear,  {or  affirm)  that  you  will  be  true  and  faithful 
to  this  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations; 
that  you  will  support  the  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  constitution  and  laws  of  this  state,  and  that  you  will 
faithfully  and  impartially  discharge  the  duties  of  your  aforesaid 
office,  to  the  best  of  your  abilities,  according  to  law:  So  help 
you  God.  [Or:  this  affirmation  you  make  and  give  under  peril 
of  the  penalty  of  perjury. 

Sec.  34.     The  number  of  sheriffs  or  their  deputies  who  shall  ^gpu'^^^Jo 
attend  upon  the  general  assembly,  at  any  session  thereof,  shall  of"theg^ra"' 
not  exceed  three  in  both  chambers,  unless  by  special  order  of  ^*^"^  ^' 
the  general  assembly:     Provided,  that  only  actual  attendance 
shall  be  paid  for. 


180 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


President  pro 
tempore  to  be 
elected  bien- 
ially  by  the 
senate. 


Committees  of 
house  and  sen- 
ate to  be  chos- 
en  bienially. 


Annual  com- 
pensation of 
clerks  of  senate 
and  house  of 
repreaenta- 
tives. 


Annual  com- 
pensation of 
certain  clerks 
of    committees 
of  the  general 
assembly. 


Sec.  35.  (Added  by  Section  6,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.) 
On  the  first  Tuesday  in  January,  A.  D.  1915,  and  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  January,  biennially,  thereafter,  a  president  pro 
tempore  of  the  senate  shall  be  elected  for  a  term  of  two  years. 

Sec.  36.  (Added  by  Section  6,  Chapter  1051,  Public  Laws.) 
In  the  month  of  January,  A.  D.  1915,  and  in  the  month  of 
January,  biennially,  thereafter,  the  senate  shall  elect  its  com- 
mittees or  provide  by  rule  for  their  appointment,  and  the 
house  of  representatives  shall  elect  its  committees  or  provide 
by  rule  for  their  appointment. 

Sec.  37.  (Added  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1460,  Public  Laws.) 
The  compensation  of  the  clerk  of  the  senate  and  of  the  reading 
clerk  and  recording  clerk  of  the  house  of  representatives  shall 
be  one  thousand  dollars  each  per  annum. 

Sec.  38.  (Added  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1460,  Public  Laws.) 
The  committeees  on  judiciary,  corporations  and  finance  of  the 
senate  and  of  the  house  of  representatives  may  each  employ  a 
clerk,  and  such  clerks  shall  each  receive  the  sum  of  eight  hundred 
dollars  per  annum  in  full  compensation  for  all  services  to  said 
committees,  and  the  joint  committee  on  accounts  and  claims 
may  employ  a  clerk  who  shall  receive  in  full  compensation  five 
hundred  dollars  per  annum.  The  senate  may  also  elect  two 
additional  clerks  of  committees  to  serve  the  other  committees 
of  the  senate  under  the  direction  of  the  clerk  of  the  senate,  and 
the  house  of  representatives  may  also  elect  two  additional  clerks 
of  committees  to  serve  the  other  committees  of  the  house  under 
the  direction  of  the  reading  clerk  of  the  house,  and  such  clerks 
so  elected  shall  each  receive  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars 
per  annum  in  full  compensation  for  their  services. 


ELECT  1  ox    LAWS.  |S1 

EXTRACTS  FROM  TITLE  VIII. 
OF  TOWNS  AND  TOWN  OFFICERS. 

CHAPTER  47.  Gen.  Law. 

1896,  ch.  87. 

Of  Calling  and  Warning  Town  Meetings. 

Section  1.  A  town  meeting  shall  be  annually  held  in  each  ^n^^^j  t^^ 
town,  for  the  election  of  such  town  officers  as  are  or  may  be  by  S|^t|?^  of"" 
law  required.  ^®''^- 

Sec.  2.     Such  meetings  shall  be  held  at  such  time  as  is  or  when  to  be 
may  be  by  by-law  or  vote  provided,  unless  otherwise  directed  ^^^^' 
by  law. 

Sec.  3.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1037,  Public  May  be  ad- 
Laws.)  If,  on  the  day  of  the' town  meeting  for  the  election  of  is'r.^'i.  332. 
town  officers,  any  town  shall  fail  to  make  an  election  of  town 
clerk,  town  council,  justices  of  the  peace  or  town  treasurer,  the 
meeting  may  be  adjourned  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the 
election  of  those  officers,  but  of  no  others,  from  day  to  day,  not 
exceeding  three  days  beyond  the  first  day  of  meeting. 

Sec.  4.     Town  meetings,  other  than  said  annual  meetings,  other  town 

meetings. 

shall  be  held  at  such  times  as  are,  or  may  be,  by  the  constitu- 
tion or  by  law  required,  or  may  be  called  in  the  manner  herein- 
after provided. 

Sec.  5.     Town  clerks  shall  cause  the  electors  of  their  respect-  Town  cierk  to 
ive  towns  to  be  notified  of  every  town  meeting  which  shall  be  meeting.  **^ 
prescribed  by  law,  and  also  of  all  other  town  meetings  which 
shall  be  legally  called. 

Sec.  6.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1191,  Public  Town  meetings. 
Laws.)     Whenever  the  town  council,  or  whenever  ten  per  cent,  notied. 
of  the  electors  of  any  town,  as  herein  provided,  less  any  frac-  tsi,*  jia^^, 
tional  part  that  may  appear  in  the  computation  thereof,  shall 
make  a  request,  in  writing,  for  the  calling  of  a  town  meeting 


182 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


How,  if  sub- 
ject acted  on 
within  six 
months. 


Notice   of   a 
meeting   pre- 
scribed by  law, 
how  to  be 
given. 


Of  notice  of 
called    town 
meetings. 
Pub.    laws, 
852,   March  29, 
1901. 


Meetings  called 
by  request, 
held   when. 


Warrant,    how 
issued,   to   fill 
vacancy    in 
office    of    town 
clerk. 


to  transact  any  business  relating  to  such  town  in  respect  of 
which  tliey  shall  have  a  right  to  vote,  and  direct  the  same  to  the 
town  clerk,  such  town  clerk  shall  cause  the  electors  to  be  duly 
notified  of  the  time  when  and  the  place  where  the  same  is  to  be 
holden,  and  of  the  business  proposed  to  be  transacted  therein; 
except  as  provided  in  Section  7  hereof:  Provided,  that  said 
ten  per  cent,  shall  be  computed  on  the  total  number  of  electors 
appearing  on  the  last  canvassed  voting  lists  of  such  town  as 
having  a  right  to  vote  in  the  transaction  of  any  business  that 
may  be  duly  presented  at  such  meeting. 

Sec.  7.  N'o  special  town  meeting  shall  be  called  without  the 
consent  of  the  towm  council,  if  the  subject  or  any  of  the  sub- 
jects proposed  to  be  considered  at  such  special  town  meeting, 
shall  have  been  acted  on  by  the  town  at  any  time  within  six 
months  previous  to  the  time  of  sucli  proposed  call. 

Sec.  8.  The  notice  to  the  electors  to  meet  in  a  town  meeting 
prescribed  by  law,  shall  be  given  by  the  town  clerk  issuing  his 
warrant,  directed  to  the  town  sergeant  or  one  of  the  constables 
of  such  town,  requiring  him  to  post,  at  least  seven  days  before 
the  day  appointed  for  such  meeting,  written  notifications  in  three 
or  more  public  places  in  the  town,  of  the  time  when  and  place 
where  said  meeting  is  to  be  holden  and  of  the  business  required 
by  law  to  be  transacted  therein. 

Sec.  9.  The  notice  of  meetings,  when  called  by  request 
aforesaid,  shall  be  given  in  the  manner  provided  for  meetings 
prescribed  by  law.  In  towns  in  which  the  hour  of  meetings 
prescribed  by  law  is  fixed  by  law,  meetings  called  by  request 
shall  be  held  at  the  same  hour.  In  other  towns  such  meetings 
shall  be  held  at  the  hour  named  in  the  request.  At  all  meetings 
called  by  request  only  the  business  stated  in  the  warrants 
directing  the  calling  of  such  meetings  shall  be  acted  upon. 

Sec.  10.  Whenever  any  town  clerk  shall  be  removed  by 
death  or  otherwise,  the  town  treasurer  of  the  towm  shall  issue 
his  warrant  to  warn  the  electors  to  assemble  in  town  meeting, 


i 


ELECTION   LAWS.  183 

to  choose  a  town  clerk  in  the  room  of  him  so  removed,  which 
warrant  shall  be  directed  as  aforesaid. 
Sec.    11.     Every   town   clerk   or    town    treasurer   who    shall  Penalty  for 

neglect  to  issue 

neglect  or  refuse  to  issue  a  waramt  as  above  directed,  and  every  J^d^  ®fo7  m^*^" 

town  sergeant  or  constable  who  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  serve  "*^- 

the  same  as  above  required,  shall  forfeit  for  each  neglect  fifty 

dollars ;  to  be  recovered,  one-half  thereof  to  the  use  of  the  town 

and  one-half  thereof  to  the  use  of  the  person  who  shall  sue  for 

the  same. 

Sec.  12.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1210,  Public  of  town 

meetings  to 

Laws.)  No  vote  shall  be  passed  in  any  town  meeting  concern-  levy  taxes  or 
ing  the  disposing  of  the  town's  land  or  making  a  tax,  unless  ^"^  i^nd. 
special  mention  be  made,  and  notice  thereof  given,  in  the  warrant 
issued  for  the  warning  of  such  meeting;  and  the  town  clerk  of 
every  town  shall  grant  such  warrant,  except  in  cases  where  the 
law  otherwise  directs,  which  warrant  shall  be  directed  to  the 
town  sergeant,  or  to  one  of  the  constables  of  the  town.  The 
notice  for  the  making  of  a  tax  as  herein  provided  shall  be  in 
substantially  the  following  form  : 


WAENIISTG  FOR  TOWN  MEETING.  Form  of 

warrant. 

State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Pkovidence  Plantations. 

County  of  Sc. 

By  the  town  clerk  of  the  town  of 
,  E.  I. 
(seal)     To  ,  town  sergeant  of 

the  town  of  ,  or  any 

of  the  constables  of  said  town. 

GREETING- 
Pursuant  to  Chapter  47  of  the  General  Laws  of  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island,  you  are  hereby  required  to  post,  at  least  seven 
days  before  the  day  of  ,  A.  D.  19 

written  notifications  in  three  or  more  public  places  in  the  said 
town  of  ,  Rhode  Island,  notifying  and  warning  the 


184  ELECTION   LAWS. 

electors  of  said  town  of  ,  qualified  to  vote 

upon  any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax  or  for  the  expenditure  of 
money,  to  assemble  in  town  meeting  at  the  town  hall  (or  other 
place  designated)  in  said  town  of  ,  on  the 

day  of  ,  A.  D.  19 

at  o'clock  in  the  noon  for  the  purpose  of  order- 

ing a  tax  to  be  levied  and  assessed  on  the  ratable  property  of 
said  town  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  for  the  payment  of  the 
town  debts  and  interest  for  the  payment  of  the  town's  propor- 
tion of  the  state  tax,  for  the  support  of  schools,  for  the  support 
and  maintenance  of  the  poor,  for  the  building,  repairing  and 
amending  of  highways,  for  the  building,  repairing  and 
amending  of  bridges,  for  the  improvement  in  any  manner  deemed 
fit  of  any  property  belonging  to  the  town,  for  all  necessary 
charges  and  expenses  whatsoever  arising  within  said  town, 
whether  incidental  or  not  to  the  above  (here  designate  any 
further  purpose,  if  any,  for  which  town  may  legally  appropriate 
money)  and  for  any  or  all  other  purposes  authorized  by  law 
(and  if  rate  is  to  be  fixed,  then  as  follows)  and  to  fix  the  rate 
of  the  tax  to  be  levied  and  assessed  on  the  ratable  property  of  said 
town  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  to  transact  such  other 
business  as  may  legally  come  before  said  meeting. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  day  of  , 

A.  D.  19     ,  at  said  town  of  ,  Rhode  Island. 


Town  Clerh. 

List  of  quaii-  Sec.  13.  (As  added  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1471,  Public 
be  canvassed  Laws. )  Prior  to  any  town  meeting  prescribed  by  law  or  called 
of  town  meet-     by  rcQuest  as  provided  by  Section  6  of  this  chapter,  the  list  of 

ings. 

the  electors  qualified  to  vote  in  such  town  meetings  shall  be 
made  out  and  canvassed  in  the  same  manner  as  provided  by 
law  with  respect  to  elective  town  meetings. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  185 


CHAPTEK48.  Sice's'. 

Of  the  Quorum,  Government  and  Conduct  of  Town  Meet- 
ings, AND  OF  Organization  and  Government  of  Ward 
Meetings. 

Section  1.     Whenever  the  inhabitants  of  any  town  do  not  How  many 

•^  electors  to  con- 

exceecl  three  thousand  by  the  last  census,  whether  national  or  meeUng^  ^°^ 
state,  preceding  the  holding  of  a  town  meeting,  seven  electors  at  citi«. 
least  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  legal  town  meeting;  and 
whenever  the  inhabitants  of  any  town  shall  exceed  that  number, 
fifteen  electors  at  least  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  such 
meeting :  Provided,  that  whenever  both  the  warden  or  modera- 
tor and  clerk  of  any  ward  or  district  meeting  held  in  any  city 
or  town  are  present,  they  shall-  constitute  a  quorum  for  the 
opening  of  the  polls  for  voting  for  all  civil  officers,  except  for 
warden  and  clerk. 

Sec.  2.     At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  each  town,  there  ^n'^^^'^'be 
shall  be  chosen  a  moderator  to  preside  in  all  the  town  meetings  ^^^^°- 
for  the  year,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  3.     (As  amended  by  Section  35,  Chapter  640,  and  Sec-  c^^^^^g^'^/^^^toS^s 
tions  1,  Chapters  677  and  1038,  Public  Laws.)     Voting-district  i^ji^nt^t^ve- 
moderators  and  clerks,  and  moderators  and  clerks  of  representa-  citiS*^other" 

^  -r»        •  T  J    ^^^^   Provi- 

tive-districts  in  any  city  other  than  the  cities  of  Providence  and  dence  and  Paw- 

^         ^  ^  tucket,  haw 

Pawtucket,  and  in  any  town  divided  into  representative-districts,  elected. 
shall  be  elected  by  and  from  the  qualified  electors  of  their  respect- 
ive districts  on  the  day  of  the  elction  of  city  or  town  officers  in 
such  city  or  town ;  they  shall  hold  their  offices  as  prescribed  in  the 
charter  of,  or  special  or  general  law,  applicable  to  such  city  or 
town,  respectively ;  and  the  voting  for  them  shall  continue  during 
the  whole  time  limited  by  law  for  voting  on  the  day  of  such  elec- 
tion.    They  shall  be  engaged  to  the  faithful  and  impartial  dis- 


186 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Boards  of 
canvasaere 
may  appoint 
moderators   and 
clerks,   when. 


To   be   ap- 
pointed in 
Providence   and 
Pawtucket,   by 
boards  of  can- 
vassers and 
registration. 


Qualifications. 


Vacancies,    how 
filled. 


Pub.   Laws, 
798,   sec.   4, 
June  13,  1900. 
Wardens   and 
clerks  in   cities 
of    Providence 
and  Pawtucket, 
how   appointed. 
26  R.    I.    465. 


charge  of  the  duties  of  their  office  and  to  support  the  constitution 
and  laws  of  the  state  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

Whenever  voting-district  moderators  and  clerks,  and 
moderators  and  clerks  of  representative  districts  have  not  been  j 
elected  in  an}^  city  or  town,  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  city 
or  town  shall  appoint  such  officers,  at  least  ten  days  before  any 
election,  or  district  or  town  meeting,  and  such  officers  shall  hold 
office  until  the  appointment  or  election  of  their  successors. 

In  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  at  least  ten 
days  prior  to  every  election,  there  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
board  of  canvassers  and  registration  thereof,  respectively,  a. 
moderator  and  a  clerk  for  each  voting-district  who  shall  be  of 
different  political  parties ;  and  who  shall  be  qualified  electors  in 
the  district  for  which  they  are  appointed. 

Such  moderators  and  clerks  shall  each  be  able  to  read  the 
constitution  of  the  state  in  the  p]ngiish  language,  and  to  write 
their  names.  Every  person  appointed  as  aforesaid  shall  be 
forthwith  notified  of  his  appointment  and  shall,  at  least  three 
days  before  any  election  at  which  he  shall  have  been  appointed 
to  serve,  accept  or  decline  said  appointment,  and  shall  be,  at 
least  three  days  prior  to  said  election,  sworn  to  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  by  some  member  of  said  board  making 
such  appointement.  In  case  any  person  appointed  as  aforesaid 
ghall  neglect  to  qualify  or  shall  be  unable  or  fail  to  serve,  the 
vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the  board  making  such  appointment 
and  such  appointee  shall  be  of  the  same  political  party  as  the 
person  failing  to  qualify,  and  shall,  before  serving,  qualify 
before  some  member  of  said  board.  .  ■ 

Sec.  4.  In  the  city  of  Providence  at  least  ten  days  prior  to 
every  election  there  shall  be  appointed  by  the  board  of  can- 
vassers and  registration  of  said  city  a  warden  and  clerk  for  each 
voting-district  who  shall  be  of  different  political  parties.  In 
the  city  of  Pawtucket  the  warden  and  clerk  shall  be  appointed 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  as  provided  by 
sections  thirty-five  to  forty-five  of  chapter  eight. 


I 


ELECTION    LAWS.  1^'' 

Sec.  5.      (As  amended  by  Section  36,  Chapter  640,  Public  Kllrto^ 
Laws.)     Moderators  and  clerks  of  voting-districts  in  towns  not  fnto  1-e^p?^nta- 
divided   into  representative-districts   shall   be  elected   annually,  tJT^be^  elected 
by  and  from  the  qualified  electors  of  their  respective  voting-  town  election, 
districts,  on  the  day  of  the  annual  election  of  town  officers  in  the 
several  towns. 

Sec.  6.     In  towns  which  do  not  elect  their  officers  by  secret  How  to  be 

^  voted  for  m 

ballot,  the  names  of  the  candidates  for  warden  or  moderator,  t?^"?  "^^^ 

'  ^    electing^    town 

and  clerk,  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  written  or  printed  upon  one  s^J|[®bIiIot 

piece  of  paper;  and  the  ballots  shall  be  by  the  voter  deposited 

in  the  ballot-box  in  such  manner  that  the  warden  or  moderator 

can  distinctly  see  that  the  voter  deposits  but  one  ballot  of  a 

kind. 

Sec.  7.     The  votes  for  warden  or  moderator  and  clerk  shall  votes  how 

counted;  result, 

be  counted  by  the  then  warden  or  moderator,  and  clerk,  and  the  BaUotr^how" 
result  declared  in  open  ward  or  district  meeting ;  and  the  ballots  ^^^"^^^^  ^'• 
shall  be  sealed  up  and  delivered  to  the  town  clerk  by  the  district 
clerk  with  the  ballots  for  other  officers. 

Sec.  8.     The  term  of  office  of  the  warden  or  moderator,  and  '^^'■'"  ^'  ^®^^' 
clerk,  as  aforesaid,  then  elected,  shall  commence  at  the   first 
regular  ward  or  district  meeting  held  thereafter  for  the  election 
of  officers,  and  shall  continue  until  their  successors  are  elected 
and  qualified,  unless  otherwise  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  9.     (As  amended  by  Section  37,  Chapter  640,  Public  Moderator  to 

^  '^  J  r  7  preside  at  all 

Laws.)      In  all  meetings  of  the  electors  or  voters  in  a  town,  ^i^*^^®  ™^*' 
representative-district,  or  voting-district,  the  moderator  of  such 
meeting  shall  preside. 

Sec.   10.      (As   amended   by   Section   38,   Chapter   640,   and  jH^i^fJ  ^. 

Section  1,  Chapter  850,  Public  Laws.)     In  case  of  the  absence  of  Soror^cie^ft 

the  moderator  or  of  the  clerk  of  any  town  meeting,  of  a  town  not  vided  into  vot- 

ingr-districts. 

divided  into  voting-districts,  the  town  meeting  may  elect  a 
moderator  or  clerk  pro  tempore,  and  the  town  clerk  shall  pre- 
side at  such  election  of  the  moderator. 

In  case  of  the  absence  of  the  moderator  or  of  the  clerk  of  a 


188 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Of  a  voting  dis- 
trict in  town 
not  divided  int 
representative 
districts. 


Of    a    represen- 
tative district, 
or  of  a  voting- 
district   in   a 
representative- 
district. 


Officer  pro  tem- 
pore, to  be  duly 
sworn. 


New  election 
in  case  of  cer- 
tain   vacancies. 


Powers  of 
moderator  and 
warden. 


Disorderly 
persona. 


voting-district  in  a  town  not  divided  into  representative-dis- 
tricts, the  voting-district  meeting  may  elect  a  moderator  or 
clerk  pro  tempore,  and  the  clerk  shall  preside  in  such  election  of 
a  moderator.  Five  electors  at  least  shall  be  necessary  to  con- 
stitute a  quorum  for  the  purpose  of  electing  such  moderator 
or  clerk  pro  tempore. 

In  case  of  the  absence  of  the  moderator  or  of  the  clerk  of  a 
representative-district  or  of  a  voting-district  in  a  representative- 
district  divided  into  voting-distrcts,  the  district-meeting  may 
elect  a  moderator  or  clerk  pro  tempore,  and  the  clerk  shall 
preside  in  such  election  of  a  moderator.  Five  electors  at  least 
shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  such  moderator  or  clerk  pro  tempore. 

The  officer  so  elected  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  his  duties  by  any  person  authorized  to  administer  oaths,  and 
shall  hold  office  in  the  cities  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket  until 
a  moderator  or  clerk  is  appointed  by  the  board  of  canvassers  and 
registration  thereof,  respectively,  and  in  all  other  such  cities  and 
towns  until  the  election  and  qualification  of  his  successor. 

Sec.  11.  (As  amended  by  Section  39,  Chapter  640,  Public 
Laws.)  In  case  of  the  death,  resignation,  or  permanent  dis- 
ability of  the  moderator  of  any  town,  or  of  the  moderator  or 
clerk  of  any  representative-district  except  in  the  cities  of  Provi- 
dence and  Pawtucket,  or  of  any  voting-district  of  any  town  not 
divided  into  representative-districts,  the  town  or  district  may 
proceed  to  a  new  election. 

Sec.  12.  Every  moderator  or  warden  shall  have  flower  to 
manage  and  regulate  the  business  of  each  meeting,  conforming 
to  law,  and  to  maintain  peace  and  good  order  therein. 

Sec.  13.  If  any  person  shall  conduct  himself  in  a  disorderly 
manner  in  any  town,  district  or  ward  meeting,  the  moderator 
or  warden  may  order  him  to  withdraw  from  the  meeting; 
and,  on  his  refusal  may  order  the  town  sergeant,  or  any  con- 
stable present,  or  any  other  persons,  to  take  him .  from  -the 
meeting  and  to  confine  him  in  some  convenient  place  until  the 


I 


ELECTION   LAWS.  189 


'meeting  shall  be  adjourned ;  and  the  person  so  refusing  to  with- 
draw shall,  for  each  offence,  be  fined  not  exceeding  twenty 
dollars. 

Sec.  14.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  922,  Public  Moderator,  how 

^  -^  ^  to   conduct  in 

Laws.)     The   moderator   of   every   town   meeting   shall,   on   a  case  of  a  mo- 

^  "^  .  t=^o"  made. 

motion  being  made  and  seconded,  relative  to  any  business 
regularly  before  such  meeting,  after  having  heard  all  the  electors 
entitled  to  vote  thereon  who  shall  be  desirous  of  being  heard, 
cause  the  votes  of  the  electors  present  to  be  taken  thereon. 
Whenever  any  question  shall  be  pending  in  any  town  meeting 
involving  an  expenditure  of  money,  or  the  incurring  of  liability 
by  the  town,  or  the  disposition  of  town  property,  the  same 
shall  be  taken  by  ballot,  if  a  ballot  be  called  for  and  the  call  be 
seconded  by  at  least  one-fifth  of  the  electors  present  who  are 
qualified  to  vote  on  the  pending  question. 

Sec.  15.     In  all  town  elections,  and  on  all  questions  to  be  vote,  how 

tRlccn,  in  town 

decided  by  ballot,  the  elector  voting  shall  present  his  ballot  to  elections,  and 

when  vote  is 

the  moderator  or  warden  without  his  name  being  written  on  the  by  ballot, 
back  or  face  of  his  ballot,  and  the  ballots  shall  be  received  by 
and  the  ballot-boxes  shall  be  in  charge  of,  the  moderators  or 
wardens  only;  and  like  proceedings  shall  be  had  In  such  cases 
and  in  all  town  meetings,  as  far  as  may  be,  as  are  prescribed  in 
sections  one,  two,  eleven,  twelve  and  thirteen  of  chapter  nine. 

Sec.    16.     All  questions   relatinsr  to  town   affairs,   excepting  Majority  necea- 

^  X         <-j    g^j,y.^    excepting 

elections,  shall  be  decided  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the  elections, 
electors  present  entitled  to  vote  on  the  question. 

Sec.   17.     A  copy  of  the  record  of  the  proceedings  of  any  Town  clerk's 

town  meeting,  duly  certified  by  the  town  clerk,  shall  be  evidence  proceedings  of 

o'  ''  •'  '  town   meeting. 

of  any  act  or  vote  of  such  town  in  town  meeting  assembled, 
recited  in  such  copy,  and  the  certificate  of  the  town  clerk  that 
no  town  meeting  has  been  held  to  consider  any  subject  in  said 
certificate  mentioned,  or  that  no  vote  of  the  town  has  been  taken 
upon  such  subject,  shall  be  evidence  of  the  fact  therein  stated. 

Sec.  18.     The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  govern  elec-  Sonriby^secl-et' 
tive  meetings  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  chapter  ^''*"^*'  ^^^  '"• 


390 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


eleven,  if  and  so  far  as  they  are  applicable,  and  not  inconsistent 
with  the  provisions  of  said  chapter  eleven. 


Gen.   Laws, 
1896,  ch.  39. 
10  R.   I.   101. 
13  R.   L   318. 
16  R.   L   501. 


What  town 
oflacers    and 
when    to    be 
chosen, 

15  R.   I.    394. 

16  R.   I.   453. 


Town    meetings 
for  town  busi- 
ness in  towns 
not  divided 
into  voting-dis- 
tricts   not    to 
conflict  with 
elections  by 
secret  ballot. 
Pub.   Laws, 
852,   March  29, 
1901. 

An  assistant 
moderator  may 
be  elected. 
Pub.   Laws, 
862,   March  29, 
1901. 


CHAPTER  49. 
Of  the  Election  and  Qualification  of  Town  Officers. 

Section  1.  The  electors  in  each  town  shall  annually,  on 
their  town  election  days,  choose  and  elect  as  many  town  officers 
as  by  the  laws  of  the  state  are  or  shall  be  required ;  that  is  to  say, 
a  moderator  to  preside  in  all  the  meetings  of  the  town,  and  a 
town  clerk,  a  town  council  to  consist  of  not  less  than  three  nor 
more  than  seven  members,  a  town  treasurer,  a  town  sergeant, 
a  town  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  one  or  more  auctioneers, 
such  a  number  of  assessors  of  taxes,  not  less  than  three  nor  more 
than  seven,  as  may  be  deemed  necessary,  one  or  more  collectors 
of  taxes,  one  or  more  corders  of  wood,  one  or  more  packers  of 
fish,  one  or  more  pound  keepers,  one  sealer  of  leather,  and  as 
many  constables,  overseers  of  the  poor,  viewers  of  fences,  gangers 
of  casks  and  all  such  other  officers  as  by  law  are  required  in  such 
town  and  as  each  or  any  town  shall  have  occasion  for,  including 
persons  to  superintend  the  building  of  chimneys  and  placing  of 
stoves  and  stove-pipes. 

Sec.  2.  In  towns  not  divided  into  voting-districts,  and  in 
which  town  meetings  for  the  election  of  town  officers  and  for  the 
transaction  of  town  business  are  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after 
the  first  Monday  in  November,  such  town  meetings  shall  be  so 
held  and  conducted  as  not  to  interfere  or  conflict  with  elections 
held  on  said  day  under  the  provisions  of  chapter  eleven. 

Sec.  3.  Such  towns  are  hereby  authorized  to  elect  an  assist- 
ant moderator,  who  may  preside  at  such  town  meetings  held  on 
the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  N^ovember,  annually, 
for  the  election  of  town  officers  and  the  transaction  of  town 
business,  and  with  like  power  and  authority  in  such  town 
meetings  as  moderators  would  have. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  191 

Sec.  4.     A  duplicate  list  of  the  qualified  electors  in  each  of  ^'^ll^^^^  be*' 
the  aforesaid  towns  shall  be  prepared  for  use  in  town  meetings  P^^P^fe*^- 
held  under  the  provisions  of  the  two  sections  next  preceding; 
and  all  the  provisions  of  law  relative  to  the  preparation,  fur- 
nishing and  use  of  voting-lists  shall  apply  to  such  duplicate 
lists. 

Sec.  5.     Justices  of  the  peace  chosen  by  any  town  shall  be  Justicea  of  the 
chosen  at  the  time  of  electing  town  officers,  and  shall  hold  their 
offices  for  one  year. 

Sec.  6.     The  town  clerk  shall  forthwith  make  a  return  of  the  of  return 
names  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  so  chosen,  to  the  secretary  of 
state. 

Sec.  7.     If  a  vote  by  ballot  be  demanded  in  the  election  of  a  Ballot  for  mod- 
moderator  or  town  clerk,  a  separate  vote  shall  be  taken  in  each  der^  ^"   ^^^^ 
case.     The  mayor  of  every  city  and  the  president  of  the  town 
council  of  every  town  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  election 
of  city  clerk  or  town  clerk  of  such  city  or  town,  send  to  the  Election  to  be 
secretary  of  state  a  certificate  of  the  election  of  such  city  or  '^^^^ 
town  clerk,  which  certificate  shall  be  kept  on  file  in  the  office  of 
the  secretary  of  state. 

Sec.  8.     Before  the  election  of  members  of  the  town  council  Number  of  the 

town  council 

or  justices  of  the  peace  is  begun  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  and  justices  of 

LilG   P63.C6  to    D6 

the  electors  shall  determine  the  number  of  such  officers  to  be  ^®*tr™i"^. 

15  R.   I.   394. 

elected.  i«  R-  i-  ^^^ 

Sec.  9.     The  members  of  the  town  council  shall  be  chosen  Order  of  the 

election  of  town 

next  in  order  after  the  election  of  town  clerk;  and  in  choosing  council, 
them  the  vote,  whether  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  shall  be  taken  for 
the  whole  number  at  the  same  time ;  and  if  by  ballot,  the  names 
of  all  the  persons  voted  for  by  any  one  elector  shall  be  placed 
upon  the  ballot. 

Sec!.  10.     The  justices  of  the  peace  shall  be  next  chosen,  and  order  of  the 

election  of  jut- 
in  the  same  manner ;  but  the  ballots  for  the  members  of  the  town  ^f_^.o'  *^« 

council,  justices  of  the  peace  and  for  any  other  officers,  may  be 

deposited  in  the  ballot-box  at  the  same  time  if  so  ordered  by  the 

town. 


192 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Of  election  of 
justices  in 
cities,  and  in 
towns  divided 
into  voting 
districts. 


Of  ballots  for 
council   and 
justices. 


When  and  what 
oflBcera  shall 
and  may  be 
elected  by  town 
council. 


Mayors  of 
cities  to  be 
elected  by  plu- 
rality. 


Oath  of  town 

and  city 

officers. 

1  R.  I.   292. 


Sec.  11.  In  cities,  the  number  of  justices  of  the  peace  to  be 
elected  shall  be  fixed  by  the  city  councils,  and  in  towns  divided 
into  districts  for  the  purpose  of  voting,  by  the  town  councils, 
and  the  voting  shall  be  conducted,  in  all  respects,  as  is  prescribed 
by  law  for  the  voting  of  senators  and  representatives  in  said 
cities  and  towns. 

Sec.  12.  In  case  of  a  ballot  for  members  of  the  town  council 
or  justices  of  the  peace,  the  names  shall  be  numbered  upon  the 
ballots,  and,  in  counting  them,  the  places  numbered  shall  be 
considered  as  separate  places. 

Sec.  13.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1039,  Public 
Laws.)  In  case  any  town  shall,  on  the  day  of  any  such  election 
for  town  officers,  fail  to  elect  any  of  the  officers  whom  they  may 
lawfully  choose,  except  town  clerk,  town  council,  justices  of  the 
peace  and  town  -treasurer,  the  said  officers  shall  be  elected  by 
the  town  council  of  the  town  at  their  next  meeting:  Provided, 
however,  that  town  councils  may  postpone  the  election  of  any 
of  said  officers  to  some  future  meeting;  and  the  several  towns 
shall  have  full  power  to  delegate  to  their  respective  town 
councils  the  election  of  any  of  the  officers  whom  such  town 
may  lawfully  choose,  except  town  clerk,  town  council,  justices 
of  the  peace  and  town  treasurer. 

Sec.  14.  Mayors  of  cities  shall  be  elected  by  plurality  of 
the  electors  qualified  to  vote  in  the  election  of  general  officers, 
who  shall  vote  for  the  candidates  for  said  office. 

Sec.  15.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1039;  Public 
Laws.)  Unless  some  other  form  of  engagement  be  specially 
by  law  prescribed,  every  person  elected  to  any  town  or  city 
office,  whether  by  the  town,  city  council,  board  of  aldermen  or 
town  council,  and  every  moderator  and  warden,  and  ward  and 
district  clerk,  shall  take  the  following  engagement  before  he  shall 
act  therein,  before  some  person  authorized  to  administer  oaths : 
You  [naming  the  person]  do  solemnly  swear  (or,  affirm)  that  you 
will  be  true  and  faithful  unto  this  state,  and  support  the  laws 
and  constitution   thereof,   and   tlie   constitution   of  the   United 


ELECTION   LAWS.  193 

States;  and  that  you  will  well  and  truly  execute  the  office  of 
[naming  the  office]  for  the  term  for  which  you  have  been  elected, 
or  until  another  be  engaged  in  your  place,  or  until  you  be  legally 
discharged  therefrom;  so  help  you  God  (or,  this  affirmation  you 
make  and  give  upon  peril  of  the  penalty  of  perjury). 

Sec.  16.     The  officer  administering  the  oath  shall  make  and  certificate  of 
deliver  to  such  officer  a  certificate  of  the  taking  of  such  oath. 

Sec.    17.     Every   collector   of   taxes   shall   give   bond,   with  coUector  of 
sufficient  surety,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  such  trust,  to  bond.  °  *^^* 
the  town  treasurer  of  the  town  for  which  he  is  chosen,  in  such  le  r.  '^i.  ^^. 

19  R    I    578 

sum  as  the  said  town  or  the  town  council  of  said  town  shall 
determine,  not  exceeding  double  the  amount  of  the  tax  with  the 
collection  of  which  he  shall  be  charged.  Whenever  any  town 
shall  elect  its  town  treasurer  collector  of  taxes  for  such  town, 
the  bond  to  be  given  by  such  collector  under  the  provisions 
hereof  shall  be  given  to  the  town,  and  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
town  council  for  safe  keeping,  and  upon  the  happening  of  any 
breach  of  the  condition  of  the  said  bond,  an  action  thereon  may 
be  commenced  in  the  name  of  the  town  to  which  it  was  given. 

Sec.  18.     In  case   of  the   death,   resignation   or  removal   of  who  to  coUect 

i'ji.YPft    '  col  1  ftctof" 

any  collector  of  taxes,  the  collector  who  shall  be  appointed  to  dead,' etc. 
complete  the.  collection  thereof  shall  have  the  same  power  to 
collect  the  same  as  is  by  law  given  to  the  collector  first  appointed. 

Sec.  19.     All  town  officers  shall  hold  their  offices  until  the  ??rrve®iS5 
next  annual  election  of  town  officers,  and  thereafter  until  their  are^quSe^™ 
successors  shall  be  lawfully  qualified  to  act;  unless  where  it  is  17  r.'  i."  415." 
expressly  provided  to  the  contrary.  24  r!  i.  34b. 

Sec.  20.     (As  amended  by  Section  40,  Chapter  640,  Public  ^^^  council 
Laws.)     Wlienever  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  any  office  by  death,  -^  ^rtaln*""* 


removal  out  of  town,  resignation,  or  by  neglect  or  refusal  to 
qualify,  or  for  any  other  cause,  the  town  council  may  fill  the 
same  until  the  next  town  meeting  for  the  election  of  such  officers, 
and  whenever  from  any  cause  there  shall  be  vacancies  in  the 
town  council  of  any  town,  so  that  there  shall  not  be  sufficient 
members  to  form  a  quorum,  the  town  clerk  shall  call  a  special 
13 


oflSces. 


194 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


'Prosecuting 
officers  are  not 
required  to  give 
surety  on  com- 
plainta. 


Special  stat- 
utes prevail. 


To  govern  elec- 
tions! by  secret 
ballot,  how  far. 


town  meeting  in  the  manner  provided  by  law  for  calling  special 
town  meetings,  at  which  meeting,  or  at  any  subsequent  meeting 
called  for  that  purpose,  such  vacancies  shall  be  filled  in  the  man- 
ner provided  for  the  election  of  such  officers. 

Sec.  21.  Officers  elected  by  a  town  to  prosecute  for  violations 
of  its  ordinances,  by-laws  and  regulations,  shall  not  be  required 
to  give  surety  for  costs  upon  complaints  made  by  them  therefor, 
but  such  town  shall  be  directly  liable  to  the  state  for  costs  in- 
curred in  such  prosecution. 

Sec.  22.  The  provisions  of  this  chapter  are  subject  to  the 
provisions  of  any  special  statutes  respecting  any  particular  town 
or  city,  none  of  which  are  repealed  hereby. 

Sec.  23.  The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  govern  elective 
meetings  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  chapter 
eleven,  if,  and  so  far  as  they  are  applicable  and  not  inconsistent 
with  the  provisions  of  said  chapter  eleven. 


I 


EXTRACTS  FROM 


CHAPTER  640,  PUBLIC  LAWS. 


Officers  hold- 
ing under  a 
law  repealed  by 
this  act,  to  con- 
tinue to  serve 
out  their  term 
of  office. 


Certain  acts 
repealed. 


(Approved  August  22,   1910.) 

Sec.  41.  All  persons  who,  'at  the  time  when  this  act  goes 
into  effect,  shall  hold  office  under  any  and  all  acts  or  parts  of  any 
act  hereby  repealed  shall  continue  to  hold  their  offices  under  the 
present  tenure  thereof,  except  those  offices  which  are  abolished 
and  those  as  to  which  a  different  provision  is  made  by  this  act. 

Sec.  42.  Chapter  464  of  the  Public  Laws,  passed  at  the 
January  session,  A.  D.  1909,  and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  in- 
consistent herewith,  are  hereby  repealed. 

Sec.  43.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


I 


ELECTION    LAWS.  195 


Chapters  of  the  Public  Laws  Passed  Since  the  Kevision 
\  OF  THE  General  Laws 

CHAPTER  475. 

an    act    in    relation    to    the    holding    of    caucuses    in    the    Passed  May  7, 

1909. 
TOWN   OF   BRISTOL. 

It  is  enacted  hij  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.      (As  amended  bv  Section  1,  Chapter  1121,  Public  Political  party 

^  "  ?  r  J  defined. 

Laws.)  In  the  town  of  Bristol,  the  caucuses  of  all  political 
parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  and  such  provisions  shall  apply  only  in  said  town.  For 
the  purpose  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is  hereby  defined  to 
be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of  state  officers  cast 
for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per  cent,  of  all  the 
votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus  and  convention 
nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political  parties. 

Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1121,  Public  Method  of 

^  *^  7  J-  7  electing  town 

Laws.)  The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said  ^™™^"^'g  ^nd 
town  shall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  to  ^"*^^  thereof, 
the  convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a 
town  committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall, 
within  ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of 
state  a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be 
vested  in  its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations 
which  the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make. 
Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  member- 
ship of  said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee. 
A  statement  thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and 
members  first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from 
the  date  of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of  such 
committees  and  thereafter  until  their  successors  have  organized. 


196 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Town  committees  may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with 
law,  to  determine  membership  in  the  party  and  to  restrain  those 
not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking  part 
therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall  gov- 
ern the  officers  by  this  act  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing 
caucus  voting  lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they 
are  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  cliapter.  Each  town 
committee  shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it 
belongs,  to  perform  the  duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  988,  Public 
Laws.)  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call 
of  the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  cau- 
cuses. The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than 
five  days  prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall 
state  the  places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of 
holding  the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be  open, 
the  business  to  be  transacted  thereat  (and  the  uniform  size 
of  the  ballots  to  be  used  in  said  caucus),  and  said  call  shall  be 
posted,  at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus,  in 
six  or  more  public  places  in  said  town.  No  two  political  parties 
shall  hold  their  eaucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.  At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucuses  in  said  town  the 
chairman  of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall 
notify,  in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such 
caucuses,  and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and 
notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its 
caucuses  on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may 
be  lawfully  held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and 
notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  cau- 
cuses may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified,  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and 
such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another  date. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  expense  of 
said  town  of  Bristol,  to  provide  a  polling  place  in  said  town  for 


ELECTION    LAWS.  11)7 

said  caucus^  and  to  notify  in  writing  such  chairman  as  to  the 
place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days  prior  to  the  date  of  such 
caucuses. 

Sec.  5.  (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1121,  Public  caucuses, 
Laws.)  No  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  pro-  ^eid. 
visions  of  section  fourteen  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day 
for  filing  the  certificate  for  the  nominations  of  such  caucus, 
nor  shall  any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days. 
All  caucuses  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  convention  to  nomi- 
nate a  candidate  for  governor,  and  to  nominate  candidates  for 
the  general  assembly  from  said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses 
necessary  for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second 
Thursday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September  biennially. 
All  caucuses  held  to  nominate  candidates  for  town  officers  in 
said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special 
election,  shall  be  held  within  twenty-five  days  of  the  second 
Wednesday  in  March  in  each  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a 
special  election  shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before, 
nor  within  two  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays, 
of  the  last  day  for  filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of 
such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.     The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  caucus  officers, 

how  and  when 

town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus,  appointed, 
appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  and  assistant 
caucus  clerks,  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  said  town, 
who  shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  town,  and  members  of 
such  political  party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in 
such  offices  from  any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided. 
Caucus  chairmen  and  caucus  clerks  so  appointed  shall  hold 
office  until  the  first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  ap- 
pointment and  thereafter  until  their  successors  are  appointed, 
and  shall  have  the  same  powers  and  duties  in  the  conduct  of 
caucuses  as  are  conferred  by  law  upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks 
oi  elective  meetings. 


198 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Duties  of  cau- 
cus officers. 


Vacancies,  how 
filled. 


Hours  during 
which  polls 
matst  remain 
open. 


Sec.   7.     (As  amended  by   Section  2,   Chapter  988,  Public 
Laws.)        The    caucus    chairman    appointed,    as    hereinbefore 
provided,  shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order, 
and  shall  preside  thereat,  and  the  caucus  clerk  and  assistant 
caucus  clerks  shall  check  the  voting  list.       In  case  a  caucus 
chairman  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called,    or  in   case   a    caucus   chairman   becomes   Incapacitated 
during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a 
majority  of  the  members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall 
appoint  a  qualified  elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as 
caucus  chairman  for  such  caucus.     If  no  member  of  the  town 
committee  is  present,  the  clerk  of  such  caucus,  or,  in  case  of 
his  absence   or  incapacity,  then   any  qualified  elector   of  such 
political  party  shall  call  the  meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors 
present  shall  elect  some  qualified  person  as  caucus  chairman  of 
such  caucus.     In  case  a  caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at 
which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in  case   a  caucus  clerk 
becomes  incapacitated  from  performing  his  duties  as  such  during 
the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or 
such  majority  thereof,  shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  of 
the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk.     If  no  member  of  the  town  com- 
mittee  is    present,    the    caucus    chairman    shall    appoint   some 
qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as  caucus  clerk.     All  caucuses  shall 
be  called  to  order  at  seven-thirty  o'clock  P.  M.     AM  nominations 
of  candidates  for  office  shall  be  made  before  the  opening  of  the 
polls,  and  no  ballot  shall  be  counted  for  any  candidate  for  office 
not  so  nominated.     The  polls  shall  be  opened  at  eight  P.  M., 
and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened  and  the  interior  thereof 
exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the  chairman  before  any 
ballots  are  cast.     Any  necessary  business  not  finished  at  eight 
P.  M.  shall  be  postponed  until  after  the  polls  are  closed  and  the 
result  of  the  balloting  announced.       The  polls  shall  be  kept 
open  until  ten  P.  M.,  and  no  longer.     Provided,  however,  that 
in  the  event  of  but  one  nomination  for  each  political  office  the 
polls  shall  be  kept  open  thirty  minutes.     Except  for  the  filling 


ELECTION   LAWS.  199 

of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  caucus  chairman  and  caucus  clerk, 
as  hereinbefore  provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be  required 
for  the  choice  of  all  candidates  for  elective  offices,  for  delegates 
to  conventions,  and  for  members  of  town  committees,  to  be 
elected  by  such  caucuses.     All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  Form  of  cau- 

.  .  .  .  CMS  ballot. 

on  white  paper,  of  uniform  size  to  be  determined  by  the  town 
committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  town,  and  no  tissue 
paper  shall  be  used  for  any  caucus  ballot.  The  names  of  all 
candidates  for  which  any  elector  shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall 
be  written  or  printed  upon  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.     No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  who  not  eli- 
gible to  partici- 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar  pate  in 

months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other 
political  party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate 
or  candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  elec- 
tion for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  can- 
didates placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  de- 
barred from  so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such 
party  provided  for  in  section  two  of  this  act.  No  person  who 
has  voted  in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible 
to  sign  any  nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  can- 
didates within  fourteen  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1121,  Public  voting-iista. 
Laws. )  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting  canvaasing  of. 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.  At  all  caucuses  the 
voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law  by 
the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  pre- 
ceding the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in 
each  year  in  which  an  election  of  state  officers  is  held,  and  on 
the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the  second  Wednesday  in 
March  in  each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days 
prior  to  the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party 
for  the  holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election 


200 


ELECTION    LAAVS. 


Same  subject. 


Ballot  boxes 
and  supplies. 


OaucuB  chair- 
man to  re- 
ceive ballott. 


Vote,  how 
counted;  plur- 
ality to  elect. 


in  such  town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting  lists  of  electors 
qualified.  Notice  of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in 
such  manner  as  such  board  of  canvassers  shall  respectively 
prescribe. 

^Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists 
specified  in  section  nine  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons 
shown  by  the  nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used 
caucus  voting  lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk,  to  be 
debarred  from  voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of 
section  eight  of  this  act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations 
of  such  political  party  to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses. 
Each  such  list  shall  be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political 
party,  and  shall  be  certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.  The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required 
to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot  boxes, 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election 
stationery,  for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held, 
and  to  cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  de- 
livered at  each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior 
to  the  hour  of  seven-thirty  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on 
which  any  such  caucus  is  to  be  held ;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the 
duty  of  the  chief  of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of 
police  officers  to  each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of 
order,  and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  re- 
quested by  said  town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.  The  caucus  chairman  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all 
persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished  to 
him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus 
chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  mg,y  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 


ELECTION   LAWS.  201 

by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 

may  be.     The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith  Return  of  bai- 

geparately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  of  ing-uats. 

the  balloting,  substatially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 

of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 

by  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.     In  case  at  any  caucus  a  maiority  of  a  delegation  in  case  of  tie 
•^  J       J  o  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

to  any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committe,  are  not  elected,  or  action  to  be 
in  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 
caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 
taucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the 
vacancies  so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  con- 
vention. 

Sec.  15.     The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty-  chairman  to 

prepare  c^- 

four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each  tificates  of 

election  and 

delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a  nomination. 

political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each 

candidate  for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination, 

and  shall  also  cause  a  certificate  of  nomination  required  by  law 

in  the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such  caucus 

for  any  elective  office  to  be  prepai'ed  and  seasonably  filed  in  the 

proper  public   office,  unless  proceedings  for  a   recount   of  the 

ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the 

provisions  of  section  sixteen  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall 

not   deliver,   send,   or   cause  to  be   filed   any   such   certificates. 

Upon  each  check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  and  assistant  verification  of 

caucus  clerks  checking  such  list   shall  make  a  return  under  oath  efeS^^  ^^ 

that  the  said  check  list  is  the  identical  one  used  in  the  caucus 


202 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Provisions  for 
recount  of 
ballots. 


Notice  of  re- 
ootmt. 


Method  of 
recount   and 
hearing    there- 
on. 


of  the  political  party  for  which  it  was  furnished,  and  that  the- 
names  checked  were  truly  and  properly  checked  at  such  caucus, 
and  that  uo  alteration  or  era&ure  or  additional  check  has  been 
made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.  If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or 
political  committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town 
a  statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 
caucus  officer,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying 
wherein  the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or 
nomination  by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning 
for  a  recount  of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said 
town,  such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such 
caucus  until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the 
nomination  or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided. The  town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served 
shall  forthwith  notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers 
of  his  town  of  the  filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  said  board  of  canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause 
notice  in  writing  to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of 
canvassers  shall  direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same 
office  receiving  votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  peti- 
tioner, of  the  filing  of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall 
appoint  a  time  and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within 
twenty-four  hours,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays, 
from  the  time  of  ordering  such  notice.  At  the  time  specified 
by  said  board  of  canvassers  said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to 
such  board  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting  list 
used  thereat,  and  at  the  appointed  time  and  place  said  board  of 
canvassers  shall  proceed  to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and 
determine  all  questions  raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the 
same  or  of  any  thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such 
recount  and  determination,  what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully 


ELECTION    LAWS.  203 

elected  or  nominatied  at  such  caucus.  Such  declaration  s-hall  ^JJi'JJive*^  ^ 
stand  as  the  true  record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such 
caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons 
so  declared  to  be  nominated  for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed 
upon  the  official  ballots,  in  accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such 
recount  and  determination  made  and  filed  with  him  by  said 
board,  which  certificate  shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed 
as  of  the  day  of  holding  of  such  caucus.  Said  board  shall  also 
furnish  to  each  delegate  and  member  of  a  committee,  so  de- 
clared to  be  elected,  a  certificate  of  his  election.     Any  candidate  candidate  or 

agent  may  be 

receiving  votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  nomination  or  office  may  present  at  re- 
be  present  during  such  recount,  either  in  person  or  by  an  agent 
duly  appointed  in  writing. 

Sec.  17.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  imder  seal  Town  clerk  to 

retain  all  used 

for  the  period  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  voting-lists  un- 
der seal. 

lists  returned  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act:  Provided,  Lists  may  be 

.  unsealed,  when, 

that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  m  the  proceedings  pro- 
vided for  in  sections  ten  and  sixteen  of  this  act,  after  which  they 
shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk, 
after  a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party 
held  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  application 
for  a  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector 
in  the  said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or 
tender  of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open 
the  wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to 
such  applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall 
then  reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.  Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party  Penalties, 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  exceeding 
thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who,  knowing 
that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to  vote,  or 


204  ELECTION    LAWS. 

votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own,  or 
votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name, 
or  deposits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any 
candidate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention 
or  member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting, 
or  at  any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus  clerk  or  the 
presiding  officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at 
such  caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not 
exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  not 
entitled  to  vote  at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under 
a  name  other  than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon 
the  voter's  own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing 
or  attempting  to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as 
aforesaid  at  the  same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprison- 
ment in  jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  willfully 
alters,  or  willfully  makes  any  change,  erasure,  or  additional 
check  upon  the  voting  list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or, 
having  custody  or  control  of  such  voting  list,  shall  suffer  or 
permit  any  alteration,  change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  to 
be  made  upon  such  voting  list,  shall  be  punished  by  imprison- 
ment in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty  days.  Excepting  otherwise 
herein  provided,  the  penalties  imposed  by  law  upon  election 
and  other  officers  and  voters  who  violate  the  provisions  of  acts 
regulating  elective  meetings  are  hereby  imposed  upon  the  same 
and  like  caucus  and  other  officers  and  voters  for  the  same  and 
like  violations  of  this  act. 

Arrest  without  Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  detected 
in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Secretary  of  ^^^-  ^^-     '^^^  Secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 

state  to  furnish     j  iij!*ix  •  p      ^^  -i*  /»ii 

copies  of  cer-      towQ  cicrk  01  said  town  copies  01  all  nommation  papers  nled 

tain   nomina-  ,,,.  -,  ■   ^  •        ^ 

tion  papers.        With  him  which  contam  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town. 
Town  commit-         ^EC.  21.     The  town  committccs  elect  in  said  town  at  the  time 
■erve.      '  of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same 


ELECTION    LAWS.  205 

nner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provisions. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


CHAPTER  479. 

AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  1078  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LAWS,    Passed  Feb. 

24,    1909. 
ENTITLED      AN  ACT  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  HOLDING  OF  CAUCUSES 

IN   THE   CITIES    OF   PROVIDENCE^   NEWPORT,   AND   PAWTUOKET/'' 
(See  Chapter  12,  General  Laws.) 

It  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.     Chapter  1078   (Chapter  12,  General  Laws)   of  Providence, 

^  \  X-  7  /  Newport,  and 

the  Public  Laws,  entitled  "  An  act  in  relation  to  the  holding  of  cSS^^* 
caucuses  in  the  cities  of  Providence,  Newport,  and  Pawtucket," 
is  hereby  amended  so  that  the  provisions  of  said  act  shall  apply 
to  the  city  of  Central  Falls  in  the  same  manner  as  they  apply  to 
the  city  of  Newport:  Provided,  that  the  liotice  to  be  published, 
as  prescribed  in  Section  3  of  said  act,  shall  be  published  as  to 
the  city  of  Central  Falls  in  one  or  more  newspapers  which  are 
circulated  in  said  Central  Falls,  and  which  are  published  in 
either  the  city  of  Pawtucket,  or  the  city  of  Providence;  and, 
provided  further,  that  the  time  for  closing  the  polls  at  the 
caucuses  in  said  Central  Falls  shall  be  at  nine  o'clock  P.  M., 
instead  of  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  as  provided  for  in  Section  7  of  said 
act. 

Sec.  2.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith 
are  hereby  repealed,  and  this  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its 
passage. 


'.^06 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


April  26,  1911. 
Approved 


CHAPTP]K  746. 


AN    ACT    IN    RELATION    TO    THE     [lOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE 
TOWN    OF    EAST    PROVIDENCE. 


It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows' 
Political  partv         SECTION  1;     (As  amended  by  Section  1.  Chapter  1132,  Public 

defined.  ^  ^  j  r  ? 

Laws.)  In  the  town  of  East  Providence  the  caucuses  of  all 
political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is 
hereby  defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of 
state  officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per 
cent,  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus 
and  convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political 
parties. 

Method  of  Sec.   2.      (As  amended  by   Section  2,   Chapter   1132,   Public 

committee,  and   Laws.)      The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said 

powers  and 

duties  thereof,  towu  sliall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the 
convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a  town 
committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall,  within 
ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of  state 
a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  management  of 
the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be  vested 
in  its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  which 
the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make.  Any 
vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  membership 
of  said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee.  A 
statement  thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and  mem- 
bers first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from  the 
date  of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of  such 
town  committees  and  thereafter  until  their  successors  have  organ- 
ized. Town  committees  may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent 
with  law,  to  determine  membership  in  the  party  and  to  restrain 
those  not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking 


ELECTION    LAWS.  207 

part  therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall 
govern  the  officers  by  this  act  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing 
caucus  voting  lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they 
are  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act.  Each  town 
committee  shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it 
belongs,  to  perform  the  duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call  of  caucuses,  how 
the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  caucuses. 
The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than  five  days 
prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall  state  the 
places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of  holding  the 
same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be  open,  the  busi- 
ness to  be  transacted  thereat  and  the  uniform  size  of  the  ballots 
to  be  used  at  said  caucus,  and  said  call  shall  be  posted,  at  least 
four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus,  in  six  or  more 
public  places  in  said  town.  No  two  political  parties  shall  hold 
their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.     At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a  Town  clerk  to 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucuses  in  said  town  the  chair-  date  of  caucus 

.  ,  and  to  furnish 

man  of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  notify  poiiing-piaces 

in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such  caucuses, 

and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and  notifi- 

tion  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its  caucuses  on 

that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may  be  lawfully 

held.     If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and  notified  by 

some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may  not 

be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  immediately  notified, 

in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and  such  chairman  shall 

select  and  make  notification  of  another  date.     It  shall  be  the 

duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  expense  of  said  town  of 

East  Providence,  to  provide  a  polling  place  in  said  town  for  said 

caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing  such  chairman  as  to  the  place  so 

provided,  at  least  seven  days  prior  to  the  date  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  5.     (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1132,  and  Sec-  caucuses,  when 

^  ^  to  be  held. 

tion    1,    Chapter   1429,    Public   Laws.)     No   caucus,   except    a 


208 


ELECTIOX    LAWS. 


Caucus  officers 
to   be  selected 
by  town  com- 
mittee. 


Duties  of  cau- 
cus officers. 


caucus  adjourned  under  the  provisions  of  section  fourteen  of  this 
act,  shall  be  held  within  two  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal 
holidays,  of  the  last  day  for  filing  the  certificate  of  the  nomina- 
tions of  such  caucus,  nor  shall  any  political  party  hold  caucuses 
on  successive  days.  All  caucuses,  excepting  those  caucuses 
necessary  for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second 
Thursday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September  in  any  year. 
All  caucuses  held  to  nominate  candidates  for  town  officers  in 
said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  elec- 
tion, shall  be  held  within  twenty-five  days  of  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  any  year.  Caucuses 
necessary  for  a  special  election  shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten 
days  before,  nor  within  two  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal 
holidays,  of  the  last  day  for  filing  the  certificates  of  the  nomin- 
ations of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.  The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said 
town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus, 
appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  for  each  voting- 
district  thereof,  who  shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  town, 
representative-districts,  and  voting-districts,  respectively,  in 
which  they  are  appointed  to  serve  as  members  of  such  political 
party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such  offices 
from  any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  Caucus  chair- 
men and  caucus  clerks  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the 
first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  appointment  and 
thereafter  until  their  successors  are  appointed  and  shall  have  the 
same  powers  and  duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are  con- 
ferred by  law  upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks  of  elective  meetings. 

Sec.  7.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1132,  Public 
Laws.)  The  caucus  chairman  appointed  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided, shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order,  and 
shall  preside  thereat.  Each  caucus  clerk  shall  check  the  voting- 
list  of  the  voting-district  in  which  he  is  appointed  to  serve.  In 
case  a  caucus  chairman  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus 
has  been  called,  or  in  case  a  caucus  chairman  becomes  incapac- 


ELECTION  LAWS.  209 

itated  during  the  holding  of  a  caucus,  the  town  committee, 
or  a  majority  of  the  members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus, 
shall  appoint  a  qualified  elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said 
town  or  representative-district  as  caucus  chairman  for  such 
caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the 
clerk  of  the  first  voting-district  in  such  towm,  or  In  case  of  his 
absence  or  incapacity,  then  of  the  voting-district  clerks  present 
the  one  next  in  numerical  order  of  the  districts,  shall  call  the 
meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some 
qualified  person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In  case  a 
caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called,  or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from 
performing  his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus, 
the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  or  representative- 
district  as  such  caucus  clerk.  If  no  member  of  the  town  commit- 
tee is  present,  the  caucus  chairman  shall  appoint  some  qualified 
elector  as  aforesaid  as  caucus  clerk.  All  caucuses  shall  be 
called  to  order  at  seven  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  polls  shall  be  open  Houm  during 

which  polls 

at  or  before  seven-thirty  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  must  remain 

•^  open. 

opened  and  the  interior  thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all 
present  by  the  chairman  before  any  ballots  are  cast*  x\ny 
necessary  business  not  finished  at  seven-thirty  P.  M.  shall  be 
postponed  until  after  the  polls  are  closed  and  the  result  of  the 
balloting  announced.  The  polls  shall  be  kept  open  until  ten 
P.  M.,  and  no  longer:  Provided,  however,  that  in  the  event  of 
but  one  nomination  for  each  political  office  the  polls  shall  be  kept 
open  thirty  minutes.  Except  for  the  filling  of  the  vacancies 
in  the  office  of  caucus  chairman  and  caucus  clerk,  as  hereinbefore 
provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be  required  for  the  choice 
of  all  candidates  for  elective  offices,  for  delegates  to  conventions, 
and  for  members  of  town  committees,  to  be  elected  by  such 
caucuses.  All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  on  white  Form  of  caucus 
paper,  of  uniform  size  to  be  determined  by  the  town  committee 
of  each  political  party  in  said  town,  and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be 
14 


210 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Who  may  par- 
ticipate in  cau- 
cus. 


Town  clerk  to 
prepare  voting^- 
lists. 


Same  subject. 


used  for  any  caucus  ballot.  The  names  of  all  candidates  for 
which  any  elector  shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall  be  written  or 
printed  upon  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1429,  Public 
Laws.)  No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  twenty-six  calendar 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other  polit- 
ical party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate  or 
candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 
placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such  party  pro- 
vided for  in  section  two  of  this  act.  No  person  who  has  voted  in 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible  to  sign  any 
nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  candidates  within 
twenty-six  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.  At  all  caucuses 
the  voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preced- 
ing the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in 
each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to  the 
earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for  the  hold- 
ing of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in  such  town, 
to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting  lists  of  electors  qualified. 
Notice  of  said  canvass  meeting  shall  be  given  in  such  manner  as 
such  board  of  canvassers  shall  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses  of 
any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists  specified 
in  section  nine  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons  shown  by  the 
nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus  voting 
lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk,  to  be  debarred  from 
voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  section  eight  of  this 


ELECTION   LAWS.  211 

act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulation  of  such^  political  party 
to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses.  Each  such  list  shall 
be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political  party,  and  shall  be 
certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.  The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  Ballot  boxes 
to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot  boxes,  *"  suppies. 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election  sta- 
tionery, for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held,  and 
to  cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered  at 
each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior  to  the  hour 
of  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  any  such 
caucus  is  to  be  held ;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  chief 
of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of  police  officers  to 
each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of  order,  and  to 
deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  requested  by  said 
town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.     The  caucus  chairaian  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all  caucus  chair- 
persons whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished  ballots, 
to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus  y^te,  how 
chairman  and  clerks  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the  ^JJ?^!?^  to 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 
by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 
may  be.     The  ballots  and  votinsr  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith  Return  of  bai- 

-'  °  lots    and    vot- 

separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  of  »"&  lists, 
the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 
of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 
by  the  caucus  clerk  of  the  first  voting-district  to  the  town  clerk 
in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.  In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation  to  in  case  of  tie 
any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee,  are  not  elected,  or  in  ^*^4jf^*^^"  *° 
case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the  eau- 


212 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Chairman  to 
prepare  certi- 

fiCcites  of  elec- 
tion and  nomi- 
nation. 


Verification  of 
dheck-list  by 
clerk. 


Provisions  for 
recoimt  of 
ballots. 


cus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said  cau- 
cus by  the  caucus  chairman^  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a  cau- 
cus of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie  vote 
for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention, or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the  va- 
cancies so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the  per- 
son or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the  dele- 
gates to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  their 
number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  convention. 

Sec.  15.  The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each 
delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a 
political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each  can- 
didate for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination  and 
shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by  law  in 
the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such  caucus  for 
any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably  filed  in  the 
proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount  of  the  bal- 
lots cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the  pro- 
vision of  section  sixteen  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall  not 
deliver,  send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates.  Upon 
each  check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  checking  such  list 
shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that  the  said  check  list  is  the 
identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the  political  party  for  which 
it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names  checked  were  truly  and 
properly  checked  at  such  caucus,  and  that  no  alteration  or  eras- 
ure or  additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.  If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or  polit- 
ical committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town  a 
statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 
caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying  where- 


ELECTION   LAWS.  213 

in  the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or  nomina- 
tion by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning  for  a  re- 
count of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town, 
such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus 
until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the  nomination 
or  election  is  fully  determined  as  hereinafter  provided.     The 

town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  shall  forthwith  Notice  of  re- 
count, 
notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  his  town  of  the 

filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  of 
canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause  notice  in  writing 
to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of  canvassers  shall 
direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same  office  receiving 
votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  petitioner,  of  the  filing 
of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall  appoint  a  time  and 
place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within  twenty-four  hours, 
exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from  the  time  of  order- 
ing such  notice.    At  the  time  specified  by  said  board  of  canvass-  Method  of  re- 

coiint  and 

ers  said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board  all  the  ballots  hearing  there- 
on. 

cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting  list  used  thereat,  and  at  the 
appointed  time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers  shall  proceed 
to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and  determine  all  questions 
raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the  same  or  of  any  thereof, 
and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such  recount  and  determina- 
tion, what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully  elected  or  nominated  Recount  to  be 
at  such  caucus.    Such  declaration  shall  stand  as  the  true  record  official  ballots 

to  be  prepared 

and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  accordingly, 
shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons  so  declared  to  be  nominated 
for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed  upon  the  official  ballots,  in 
accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such  recount  and  determination 
I  made  and  filed  with  him  by  said  board,  which  certificate  shall 
be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of  holding  such 
caucus.  Said  board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  delegate  and  mem- 
!ber  of  a  committee,  so  declared  to  be  elected,  a  certificate  of  his  hfs^reprMeSta- 
election.    Any  candidate  receiving  votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  repre^^d  at 

recount. 


?14 


ELECTION  LAWS. 


Town   clerk   to 
retain  under 
seal  all  used 
voting  lists, 
for   what 
period. 


Lists  may  be 
unsealed,   when. 


Penalties. 


nomination  or  office  may  be  present  during  such  recount^  either 
in  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing. 

Sec.  17.  (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1429,  Public 
Laws.)  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal  for 
the  period  of  twenty-six  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  lists 
returned  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act :  Provided,  that 
such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  provided 
for  in  sections  ten  and  sixteen  of  this  act,  after  which  they  shall 
be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after  a 
check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held  un- 
der the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  application  for  a 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the 
said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender 
of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.  Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  exceed- 
iny  thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus,  who  knowing 
that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to  vote,  or  votes 
or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own,  or  votes 
or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name,  or  de- 
posits or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any  can- 
didate for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  or 
member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  at 
any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus  clerk  or  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  such 
caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding 
thirty  days.  "Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  not  entitled  to  vote 
at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  other 


ELECTION    LAWS.  815 

than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's 
own  name,  or  aids  or  ahets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting 
to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the 
same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not 
exceeding  thirty;  days.  Whoever  willfully  alters,  or  willfully 
makes  any  change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  upon  the  voting 
list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control 
of  such  voting  list,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change, 
erasure,  or  additional  check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting  list, 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty 
days.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  im- 
posed by  law  upon  election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who  vio- 
late the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are  hereby 
imposed  upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers  and 
voters  for  the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Sec.  19.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace  ^^If*.^'^®^ 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  de- 
tected in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  20.     The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the  secretary  of 

''  ^  state  to  fumiah 

town  clerk  of  said  town  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed  with  ^Pj^o^ina^' 
him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town.  *^^'°°  papers. 

Sec.  21.     The  town  committees-elect  in  said  town  at  the  time  Town  commit- 

tees-elect,   to 

of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same  8«rve. 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been,  elected 
under  its  provisions. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


216  ELECTIOX    LA  AYS. 


CHAPTER  762. 


Approred  AN"    ACT    IN    RELATION^    TO    THE    HOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE 

April  19,  1911. 

TOWN  OF  TIVERTON. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Political  party        SECTION  1.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1149,  Pub- 
defined.  ^  "^  5  r  7 

lie  Laws.)  In  the  town  of  Tiverton,  the  caucuses  of  all  political 
parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
act.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is  hereby  de- 
fined to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of  state 
officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per  cent, 
of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus  and 
convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political  parties. 
Method  of  Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1149,  Public 

electing    town  ^  "^  ^  x  ^ 

an?1w>wSs  and  ■''^'^^^^•)  '^^^  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said 
duties  thereof,  fown  shall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the 
convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a  town 
committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall,  within 
ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of  state 
a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  management  of 
the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be  vested  in 
its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  which 
Vacancy.  the  state  Committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make.    Any  va- 

cancy occuring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  membership  of  said 
town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee.  A  statement 
thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and  members  first 
chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from  the  date  of  their 
election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of  such  committees  and 
thereafter  until  their  successors  have  organized.  Town  commit- 
tees may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with  law,  to  deter- 
mine membership  in  the  party  and  to  restrain  those  not  entitled 
to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking  part  therein,  and 
such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall  govern  the  officers 


ELECTION    LAWS.  217 

by  this  act  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing  caucus  voting- 
lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they  are  not  in 
conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act.  Each  town  committee 
shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it  belongs,  to  per- 
form the  duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call  of  caucuses,  'hoT 
the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  caucuses. 
The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than  five  days 
prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall  state  the 
places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of  holding 
the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be  open,  and  the 
business  to  be  transacted  thereat,  and  said  call  shall  be  posted, 
at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus,  in  six  or 
more  public  places  in  said  town.  No  two  political  parties  shall 
hold  their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.     (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  144^:!^  Public  Town  clerk  to 
Laws.)     Not  less  than  twenty-one  days  and  not  more  than  sixty  date°of  cauSw 

and  to  furnish 

days  prior  to  any  election  in  said  town  the  chairman  of  the  town  poiiing-piace* 

•^     ^  ^  '  therefor. 

committee  of  such  political  party  shall  notify,  in  writing,  the 
town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such  caucuses,  and  upon  re- 
ceipt of  any  such  notification  the  town  clerk  shall  immediately 
post  the  same  in  his  office  in  some  place  where  it  may  be  readily 
seen  by  the  public.  The  political  party  first  making  such  selec- 
tion and  notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold 
its  caucuses  on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses 
may  be  lawfully  held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected 
and  notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which 
caucuses  may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified,  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and 
such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another  date. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  expense  of 
said  town  of  Tiverton,  to  provide  a  polling  place  in  said  town  for 
said  caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing  such  chairman  as  to  the 
place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days  prior  to  the  date  of  such 
caucuses. 


218 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Caucuses,    when 
to  be  held. 


Caucus   officers 
to  be  selected 
by  town  com- 
mittee. 


Duties  of  cau- 
cus officers. 


Sec.  5.  (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1149,  Public 
Laws.)  Xo  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  pro- 
visions of  section  fourteen  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus,  nor  shall 
any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days.  All  cau- 
cuses held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  convention  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  governor,  and  to  nominate  candidates  for  the  gen- 
eral assembly  from  said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses  neces- 
sary for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second  Thurs- 
day next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September  biennially.  All 
caucuses  held  to  nominate  candidates  for  town  officers  in  said 
town,  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election, 
shall  be  held  within  twenty-five  days  of  the  first  AYednesday  in 
April  in  each  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election 
shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before,  nor  within  two  days, 
exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for  filing 
the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.  The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said 
town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus,  ap- 
point a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  and  assistant  caucus 
clerks,  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  said  town,  who  shall  be 
qualified  electors  of  said  town,  and  members  of  such  political 
party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such  offices  from 
any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  Caucus  chairman  and 
caucus  clerks  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the  first  day  of 
January  next  succeeding  their  appointment  and  thereafter  until 
their  successors  are  appointed,  and  shall  have  the  same  powers 
and  duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are  conferred  by  law 
upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks  of  elective  meetings. 

Sec.  7.  (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1444,  Public 
Laws.)  The  caucus  chairman  appointed,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided, shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order  and 
shall  preside  thereat,  and  the  caucus  clerk  and  assistant  caucus 
clerks  shall  check  the  voting-list.     In  case  a  caucus  chairman 


ELECTION   LAWS.  219 

is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in 
case  a  caucus  chairman  becomes  incapacitated  during  the  holding 
of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a  qualified 
elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as  caucus  chairman 
for  such  caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  pres- 
ent, the  clerk  of  such  caucus,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence  or  in- 
capacity, then  any  qualified  elector  of  such  political  party  shall 
call  the  meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect 
some  qualified  person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In 
case  a  caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has 
been  called,  or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from 
performing  his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  ihe  caucus, 
the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk. 
If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the  caucus  chair- 
man shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as  caucus 
clerk.    All  caucuses  shall  be  called  to  order  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.  Hours  during 

which   polls 

The  polls  shall  be  opened  at  or  before  three-fifteen  P.  M.,  and  ™"st  remain 

^  ^  ^  open. 

the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened  and  the  interior  thereof  exposed 
to  view  of  all  present  by  the  chairman  before  any  ballots  are 
cast.  Any  necessary  business  not  finished  at  three-fifteen  P.  M. 
shall  be  postponed  until  after  the  polls  are  closed  and  the  result 
of  the  balloting  announced.  The  polls  shall  be  kept  open  until 
four-thirty  P.  M.,  and  no  longer.  Provided,  however,  that  all 
nominations  to  be  voted  upon  at  any  caucus  shall  be  made  be- 
fore the  opening  of  the  polls,  and  if  but  one  nomination  is  made 
for  each  political  office  to  be  voted  for  at  any  caucus,  the  polls  at 
such  caucus  need  not  be  kept  open  longer  than  thirty  minutes 
after  the  opening  thereof.  Except  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in 
the  office  of  caucus  chairman  and  caucus  clerk,  as  hereinbefore 
provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be  required  for  the  choice 
of  all  candidates  for  elective  offices,  for  delegates  to  conventions, 
and  for  members  of  town  committees,  to  be  elected  by  such  cau- 
cuses.   All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  on  white  paper,  of  Form  of  cau- 

^  ^   ^     '  cus  ballot. 


220 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Who  may  par- 
ticipate in 
caucuses. 


Town  clerk  to 
prepare  voting- 
listo. 


Same  subject. 


uniform  size  to  be  determined  by  the  town  committee  of  each 
political  party  in  said  town,  and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for 
any  caucus  ballot.  The  names  of  all  candidates  for  which  any 
elector  shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall  be  written  or  printed  upon 
one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.  No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  the 
caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other  polit- 
ical party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate  or 
candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 
placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such  party  pro- 
vided for  in  section  two  of  this  act.  No  person  who  has  voted 
in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible  to  sign  any 
nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  candidates  within 
fourteen  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.  (As  amended  by  Section  4,  Chapter  1149,  Public 
Laws.)  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting- 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.  At  all  caucuses 
the  voting-lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law  by 
the  boards  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  pre- 
ceding the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in 
each  year  in  which  an  election  of  state  officers  is  held,  and  on 
the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the  first  Wednesday  in  April 
in  each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior 
to  the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for 
the  holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in 
such  town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting-lists  of  electors 
qualified.  Notice  of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in 
such  manner  as  such  boards  of  canvassers  shall  respectively 
prescribe. 

Sec.  10.     In  preparing  caucus  voting-lists  for  the  caucuses 


ELECTION  LAWS.  321 

of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists 
specified  in  section  nine  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons  shown 
by  the  nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus 
voting-lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk^  to  be  debarred 
from  voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  section  eight 
of  this  act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations  of  such  politi- 
cal party  to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses.  Each  such 
list  shall  be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political  party,  and 
shall  be  certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11     The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  Ballot  bozei 

and  supplies. 

to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot  boxes, 

blank    forms    of    certificates    and    returns,    and    other    election 

stationery,  for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held, 

and  to  cause  tlie  voting-lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered 

at  each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior  to  the 

hour  of  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  any 

such  caucus  is  to  be  held ;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the 

chief  of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of  police 

officers  of  each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of  order, 

and  to  deliver  the  voting-lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  requested  by 

said  town  clerk. 

Sec.   12.     The  caucus  chairman  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  Caucus  chair- 
man to  receive 

all  persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  fur-  ballots, 
nished  to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons 

Sec.  13.     Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus  counted;  piu- 

"  rality  to  elect. 

chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the 

ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 

appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 

caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 

cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 

by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 

mav  be.     The  ballots  and  voting-lists  shall  then  be  forthwith  Return  of  bal- 
lots and  voting- 
separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  lists. 

of  the  balloting,  substantially  in  form   required  by  law  in  the 


822 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


In  case  of  tie 
vote,  etc.,  what 
action  to  be 
taken. 


Chairman  to 
prepare  certi- 
ficates of  elec- 
tion and  nomi- 
nation. 


Verification  of 
check-list  by 
clerk. 


case  of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in 
person  b}^  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

8ec.  14.  In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation 
to  any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee,  are  not  elected, 
or  in  cases  of  a  tie  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 
caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 
caucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the 
vacancies  so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  con- 
vention. 

Sec.  15.  The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each 
delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a 
political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each 
candidate  for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination, 
and  shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by 
law  in  the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such 
caucus  for  any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably 
filed  in  the  proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount 
of  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably 
to  the  provisions  of  section  sixteen  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he 
shall  not  deliver,  send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates. 
Upon  each  check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  and  assistant 
caucus  clerks  checking  such  list  shall  make  a  return  under  oath 
that  the  said  check  list  is  the  identical  one  used  in  the  caucus 
of  the  political  party  for  which  it  was  furnished,  and  that  the 
names  checked  were  truly  and  properly  checked  at  such  caucus, 
and  that  no  alteration  or  erasure  or  additional  check  has  been 
made  thereon. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  223 

Sec,  16.     If  before  five  o^clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  ^I^P^°^J^J^ , 

J     recount  of  bal- 

suceeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro-  ^°**' 
visions  of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination    or   election    to    any   elective    office,    delegation,    or 
political  committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town 
a  statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by 
the  caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying 
wherein  the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or 
nomination  by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning 
for  a  recount  of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said 
towm,  such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such 
caucus   until   such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the 
nomination  or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided.    The  town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  ^^^^^^^''^ 
shall  forthwith  notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers 
of  his  town  of  the  filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  said  board  of  canvasesrs  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause 
notice  in  writing  to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of 
canvassers  shall  direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same 
office  receiving  votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  peti- 
tioner, of  the  filing  of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall 
appoint  a  time  and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within 
twenty-four   hours,   exclusive   of    Sundays   and   legal   holidays, 
from  the  time  of  ordering  such  notice.     At  the  time  specified  ^^^ '^jjjj  Jtar- 
by  said  board  of  canvasesrs  said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  '"^  thereon, 
such  board  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting- 
list  used  thereat,  and  at  the  appointed  time  and  place  said  board 
of  canvassers  shall  proceed  to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear 
and  determine  all  questions  raised  for  or  against  the  counting 
of  the  same  or  of  any  thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of 
such   recount   and   determination,   what   persons,   if   any,   were 
lawfully  elected  or  nominateid  at  such  caucus.     Such  declara-  Jj^j'^M^^Jj 
tion  shall  stand  as  the  true  record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  ?f  be^pjjji°?d 
at  such  caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  *^<^'"<^^"^^y' 
the  persons  so  declared  to  be  nominated  for  any  elective  office 


224  ELECTIOX    LAAVS. 

to  be  printed  upon  the  official  ballots,  in  accordance  with  a 
certificate  of  such  recount  and  determination  made  and  filed 
with  him  by  said  board,  which  certificate  shall  be  deemed  to  be 
nlade  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of  holding  such  caucus.  Said 
board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  delegate  and  member  of  a  com- 
mittee, so  declared  to  be  elected,  a  certificate  of  his  election. 
Ouidldate  w       Any  candidate  receiving  votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  nomina- 

his  representa-  "^  ^  _ 

tive  may  be       \^{qj^  or  officc  may  be  present  during  such  recount,  either   in 

presen  at  re-  j  c  o  ? 

count.  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing. 

Tovra  clerk  to         Sec.  17.     The  town  clcrk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal 

retain  under 

TOtinSiiST'for  ^^^  ^^^  pcriod  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting- 
what  period.  ^g|.g  petumcd  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act :  Pro- 
vided, that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings 
provided  for  in  sections  ten  and  sixteen  of  this  act,  after  which 
they  shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town 
clerk,  after  a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political 
party  held  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  appli- 
cation for  a  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified 
elector  in  the  said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  pay- 
ment or  tender  of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may 
unseal  and  open  the  wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and 
shall  furnish  to  such  applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as 
checked,  and  shall  then  reseal  the  same. 
Penalties.  Sec.  18.     Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party 

who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  exceed- 
ing thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who, 
knowing  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to 
vote,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than 
his  own,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his 
own  name,  or  deposits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one 
ballot  for  any  candidate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any 


ELECTION"  LAWS.  225 

convention  or  member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same 
balloting,  or  at  any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus 
clerk  or  the  presiding  officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right 
to  vote  at  such  caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in 
jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person 
not  entitled  to  vote  at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote 
under  a  name  other  than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting 
/  twice  upon  the  voter's  own  name,  or  aid  or  abets  a  person  in 
depositing  or  attempting  to  deppsit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one 
ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the  same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever 
willfully  alters,  or  willfully  makes  any  change,  erasure,  or 
additional  check  upon  the  voting-list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a 
caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control  of  such  voting-list,  shall 
suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change,  erasure,  or  additional 
check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting-list,  shall  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty  days.  Excepting 
otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  imposed  by  law  upon 
election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who  violate  the  provisions 
of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are  hereby  imposed  upon 
the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers  and  voters  for  the 
same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Sec.  19.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace  Arrest  without 
officer    or    constable    to    arrest    without    warrant    any    person 
detected  in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  20.     The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the  secretary  of 

'^  state  to  bar- 

town  clerk  of  said  town,  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed  g^tef^^^^  i? 
with  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town.  °***°°  papen. 

Sec.  21.     The  town  committees-elect  in  said  town  at  the  time  Town  com- 
mittees elect, 

of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same  ^  ^"'®- 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provisionfl. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


15 


226 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


CHAPTER  815. 


Approved  AN  ACT  AUTHORIZING  AND  DIRECTING  THE  BOARD  OF  CANVASSERS 

April    26,    1912. 

AND   THE    BOARDS    OF    CANVASSERS    AND    REGISTRATION    OF    THE 

SEVERAL   CITIES    AND   TOWNS    TO    PROVIDE   VOTING   PLACES    AND 

CAUCUS  SUPPLIES  ON  CERTAIN  OCCASIONS. 


Boards  of  can- 
vassers and 
boards    of    can- 
vassers   and 
registration  to 
furnish,  voting 
places  and 
paraphernalia 
for  certain 
primary  meet- 
ings. 


Method  of 
fixing  dates  for 
holding  nid 
primaries. 


Number  of 
voting-places 
to  be  furniriied. 


It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assemhly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  board  of  canvassers  and  the  boards  of 
canvassers  and  registration  of  the  several  cities  and  towns  of  the 
state  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  furnish  for  the  use  of 
any  political  party  in  this  state^  upon  written  request  of  the 
chairman  of  the  state  central  committee  thereof,  acting  under  a 
resolution  of  said  committee,  voting  places  in  which  primary 
meetings  may  be  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  national  conven- 
tion of  such  political  party.  Said  boards  shall  have  said  voting 
places  open  on  the  date  and  during  the  hours  requested  by  said 
chairman  of  said  committee,  and  shall  furnish  to  the  officers 
appointed  to  act  at  said  primary  meetings  such  paraphernalia, 
including  check-lists  and  ballot-boxes,  as  are  generally  required 
and  used  in  caucuses,  and  in  addition  thereto  shall  furnish  in  the 
same  manner  as  is  now  required  at  elective  meetings,  voting 
shelves  or  compartments  to  enable  the  voter  to  mark  his  ballot 
in  secret:  Provided,  that  the  political  party  first  requesting  as 
aforesaid  the  use  of  said  voting  places  on  and  for  a  certain  date, 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  use  thereof  on  that  date;  and  if  such 
date  is  one  requested  by  some  other  political  party  as  aforesaid, 
such  other  political  party,  through  the  chairman  of  said  com- 
mittee as  aforesaid,  may  request  another  date.  In  cities  a 
voting  place  and  paraphernalia  therefor  shall  be  furnished  and 
provided  for  each  ward  into  which  such  cities  may  be  divided; 
and  in  each  of  the  towns  of  Bur  rill  ville,  Cumberland,  East 
Providence,  Lincoln  and  Warwick,  two  such  voting  places  and 


ELECTION   LAWS.  .  227 

the  paraphernalia  therefor,  and  in  every  other  town  one  such 
voting  place  and  the  paraphernalia  therefor  shall  be  furnished 
and  provided. 

Sec.  2.     Xothing  in  this  act  shall  be  construed  to  require  the  Said  boards  "'^t 

to  be  required 

boards  of  canvassers  and  registration  to  furnish  ballots  to  be  to  fumiah 

*=•  ballots  to  be 

used  at  said  primary  meetings,  nor  to  provide  for  the  compensa-  "^gj*  ^^^ 
tion  for  services  of  the  officers  appointetd  to  act  at  said  primary 
meetings;  nor  shall  anything  contained  herein  be  held  to  affect 
the  method  of  holding  caucuses  already  provided  for  by  law. 

Sec.  3.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage,  and  all 
acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby  repealed. 


CHAPTER  891. 

AN    ACT    IN    RELATION    TO    THE    HOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE    April*20?  1912. 
TOWN    OF    NORTH    SMITHFIELD. 

Tt  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1144,  Public  J^^j^^  p^^j 
Laws.)  In  the  town  of  North  Smithfield  the  caucuses  of  all 
political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is 
hereby  defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of 
istate  officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per 
cent,  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus  and 
convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political  parties. 

Sec.  2.     (As  amended  by  Section  2,  Chapter  1144,  Public  Method  of 

^  -^  ?  r  J  electing  town 

Laws.)     The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said  ^"S-a  ^d  X^ 
towTi  shall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  *'^  thereof, 
convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a  town 
committee  for  such  town.     Each  town  committee  shall,  within 
ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of  state  a 
list  of  its  officers  and  members.     The  general  management  of 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be  vested  in 
its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  which 
the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make.  Any 
vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  membership  of 
said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee.  A  state- 
ment thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and  members 
first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from  the  date 
of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of  such  com- 
mittees and  thereafter  until  their  successors  have  organized. 
Town  committees  may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with 
law,  to  determine  membership  in  the  party  and  to  restrain  those 
not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking 
part  therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall 
govern  the  officers  by  this  act  charged  with  the  duty  of  pre- 
paring caucus  voting  lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so 
far  as  they  are  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 
Each  town  committee  shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to 
which  it  belongs,  to  perform  the  duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call  of 
the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  caucuses. 
The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than  five  days 
prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall  state  the 
places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of  holding 
the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be  open,  the 
business  to  be  transacted  thereat  and  the  uniform  size  of  the 
ballots  to  be  used  in  said  caucus,  and  said  call  shall  be  posted,  at 
least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus,  in  six  or  more 
public  places  in  said  town.  No  two  political  parties  shall  hold 
their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.  At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucus  in  said  to\vn  the  chair- 
man of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  notify 
in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such  caucus, 
and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and  notifica- 
tion for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its  caucus  on 


ELECTION   LAWS.  229 

that  clate_,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may  be  lawfully- 
held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and  notified 
by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  a  caucus 
may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  immediately 
notified,  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and  such  chair- 
man shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another  date.  .It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  expense  of  said  town 
of  North  Smithfield,  to  provide  a  polling  place  in  said  town  for 
said  caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing,  such  chairman  as  to  the 
place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days  prior  to  the  date  of  such 
caucuses. 

Sec.   5.     (As  amended  by  Section  3,  Chapter  1144,  Public  Caucuses,  whtn 

T  X       ^T  ,  '-.-..  to  beheld. 

L»aws.)  iNo  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  pro- 
visions of  section  fourteen  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within 
two  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last 
day  for  filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus, 
nor  shall  any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days. 
All  caucuses,  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special 
election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second  Thursday  next  after  the 
first  Monday  in  September.  All  caucuses  held  to  nominate 
candidates  for  town  officers  in  said  town,  excepting  those  cau- 
cuses necessary  for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  within  twenty- 
five  days  of  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber in  each  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election 
shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before,  nor  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.     The  town  committee  of  each  politcal  party  in  said  Caucua  office™ 

town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus,  by  town  com- 
mittee, 
appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  for  said  town  who 

shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  town  and  members  of  such 

political  party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such 

offices  from  any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.       The 

caucus  chairman  and  caucus  clerk  so  appointed  shall  hold  office 

until  the  first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  appoint- 


230 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Duties  of  cau- 
cus officers. 


Hours  during 
which    polls 
must  remain 
open. 


ment  and  thereafter  until  their  successors  are  appointed,  and 
shall  have  the  same  powers  and  duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses 
as  are  conferred  by  law  upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks  of  elective 
meetings. 

Sec.  7.  (As  amended  by  Section  1,  Chapter  1589,  Public 
Laws.)  *  The  caucus  chairman  appointed,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided, shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order,  and 
shall  preside  thereat.  The  caucus  clerk  shall  check  the  voting 
list  of  the  town  at  said  caucus.  In  case  a  caucus  chairman 
is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called  or 
in  case  the  caucus  chairman  becomes  incapacitated  during  the 
holding  of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a  majority  of  the 
members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a  quali- 
fied elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as  caucus  chair- 
man of  such  caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee 
is  preesnt,  the  clerk  of  the  caucus  in  such  town  shall  call  the 
meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some  quali- 
fied person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In  case  the 
caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called,  or  in  case  the  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from 
performing  his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus, 
the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk. 
If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the  caucus 
chairman  shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as 
caucus  clerk.  All  caucuses  shall  be  called  to  order  at  seven 
o'clock  P.  M. ;  the  polls  shall  be  opened  at  or  before  seven- 
thirty  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened  and  the 
interior  thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the  chair- 
man before  any  ballots  are  cast.  Any  necessary  business  not 
finished  at  seven-thiry  P.  M.,  shall  be  postponed  until  after 
the  polls  are  closed  and  the  result  of  the  balloting  announced. 
The  polls  shall  be  kept  open  until  nine-thirty  P.  M.,  and  no 
longer :  Provided,  that  in  the  event  of  but  one  nomination  for 
each  political  office  the  polls  shall  be  kept  open  thirty  minutes. 


ELECTION  LAWS.  231 

Except  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  caucus  chair- 
man and  caucus  clerk^  as  hereinbefore  provided  in  this  section, 
a  ballot  shall  be  required  for  the  choice  of  all  candidates  for 
elective  offices,  for  delegates  to  conventions,  and  for  members 
of   town   committees,    to   be   elected    by    such   caucuses.        All  fo™  <>'  caucu* 

^     '  -^  baUotB. 

ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  on  white  paper,  of  uniform 
size  to  be  determined  by  the  town  committee  of  each  political 
party  in  said  town,  and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any 
caucus  ballot.  The  name  of  all  candidates  for  which  any  elector 
shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall  be  written  or  printed  upon  one 
ballot. 

Sec.  8.  No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  who  may  parti- 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar  ciSf 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other 
political  party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate 
or  candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  elec- 
tion for  the  candidate  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candi- 
dates placed  in  nominaation  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  de- 
barred from  so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of 
such  party  provided  for  in  section  two  of  this  act.  No  person 
who  has  voted  in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be 
eligible  to  sign  any  nomination  paper  containing  nominations 
of  candidates  within  fourteen  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.  At  all  caucuses  ^own  clerk  to 
the  voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law  TfS*"^^  votmg- 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  pre- 
ceding the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
in  each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior 
to  the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for 
the  holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election 
in  such  town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  votin»  lists  of  electors 


232 


ELECTIOX    LAWS. 


Same  subject. 


Ballot  boxfift 
and  supplies. 


Caucus  chair- 
man to  receive 
baUots. 


Vote,  how 
counted;  plu- 
rality to  elect. 


qualified.     Xotice  of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in 
such  manner  as  such  board  of  canvassers  shall  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists 
specified  in  section  nine  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons 
shown  by  the  nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used 
caucus  voting  lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk  to  be 
debarred  from  voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of 
section  eight  of  this  act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations 
of  such  political  party  to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses. 
Each  such  list  shall  be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political 
party,  and  shall  be  certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.  The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required 
to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot  boxes, 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election 
stationery,  for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held, 
and  to  cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  deliv- 
ered at  each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior 
to  the  hour  of  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which 
any  such  caucus  is  to  be  held;  and  it  is  herebj  made  the  duty 
of  the  town  sergeant  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of  police 
constables,  or  constables  to  each  such  polling  place,  for  the 
preservation  of  order,  and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid, 
as  may  be  requested  by  said  town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.  The  caucus  chaii*man  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all 
persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished 
to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus 
chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 
by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 
may  be.     The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith 


ELECTION   LAWS.  233 

separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  i^f*'^d°vot&- 
of  the  balloting  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  ^'^• 
case  of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in 
person  by  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  of  said  town. 

Sec.  14.  In  case  at  any  caucus  a  maiority  of  a  delegation  in  case  of  tie 
to  any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee  are  not  elected,  gtwn  to  be 
or  in  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 
caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 
caucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
caucus  for  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the 
vacancies  so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such 
convention. 

Sec.    15.     The    chairman    of    everv    caucus    shall,    within  chairman  to 

prepare   certi- 

twenty-four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  ^on^^^d'  nom'i- 

each  delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a  ^**^°"- 

political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each 

candidate  for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination 

and   shall  also  cause  a   certificate   of  nomiantion   required  by 

law  in  the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such 

caucus   for   any   elective   office   to  be   prepared   and   seasonably 

filed  in  the  proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount 

of  the  ballots  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the 

provisions  of  section  sixteen  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall 

not  deliver,  send,   or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates. 

Upon  the  check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  checking  such  verification  of 

check-list  by 

list  shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that  the  said  check  list  is  the  clerk, 
identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the  political  party  for  which 
it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names  checked  were  truly  and 


234 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Proviiions  for 
recount  of  bal- 
lot. 


Notice  of  rp- 
oount. 


Notice  of  re- 
count and 
hearing  there- 
on. 


properly   checked   at   such   caucus,   and   that   no   alteration   or 
erasure  or  additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.  If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or 
political  committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town 
a  statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 
caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying  where- 
in the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or  nomina- 
tion by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning  for  a 
recount  of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town, 
such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus 
until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the  nomination 
or  election  is  fully  determined  as  hereinafter  provided.  The 
town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  shall  forthwith 
notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  his  town 
of  the  filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
board  of  canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause  notice 
in  writing  to  be  served  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of  canvassers 
shall  direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same  office  re- 
ceiving votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the.  petitioner, 
of  the  filing  of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall  appoint 
a  time  and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within  twenty- 
four  hours,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from  the 
time  of  ordering  such  notice.  At  the  time  specified  by  said  board 
of  canvassers  said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board  all 
the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting  list. used  thereat, 
and  at  the  appointed  time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers 
shall  proceed  to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and  determine 
all  questions  raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the  same  or  of 
any  of  thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such  recount  and 
determination,  what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully  elected  or 
nominated  at  such  caucus.  Such  declaration  shall  stand  as  the 
true  record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  the 


ELECTION  LAWS.  236 

proper  officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons  so  declared  ^chSive^'aJd 
to  be  nominated  for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed  upon  the  jJb^prepariS 
official  ballots,  in  accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such  recount  ^'^^^^^^fi^y- 
and  determination  made  and  filed  with  him  by  said  board,  which 
certificate  shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of 
holding  such  caucus.     Said  board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  dele- 
gate and  member  of  a  committee,  so  declared  to  be  elected,  a 
certificate  of   his  election.     Any   candidate   receiving   votes   at  Candidate  or 

.  hia   representa- 

sucli  caucus  for  such  nomination  or  office  may  be  present  during  tive  may  be 

present   at  re- 

such  recount,  either  in  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  count- 
writing. 

Sec.  17.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal  Town  clerk  to 

retain  under 

for  the  period  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  lists  seal  aii  used 

°  voting-lists, 

returned  to  him  under  thp  provisions  of  this  act :  Provided,  that  '^^  what  period, 
such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  provided  Lists  may  be 
for  in  sections  ten  and  sixteen  of  this  act,  after  which  they  shall 
be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after  a 
cheek  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held  un- 
der the  provisions  of  this  act  upon  written  application  for  a  copy 
of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the  said 
towTi  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender  of 
the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
re  seal  the  same. 

Si:c.  18.  Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party  Penalties, 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit  to  perform,  in  the  man- 
ner and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  exceeding 
thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who,  knowing 
that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to  vote,  or  votes 
or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own,  or  votes 
or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name,  or  de- 


836 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Arrest  without 
warrant. 


Secretary  of 
state  to  fur- 
nish  copies  of 
certain  nomina- 
tion papers. 

Town   commit- 
tees elect,  to 


posits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any  c^nJ 
didate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  ox 
member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  aj 
any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  the  caucus  clerk  or  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  sucl 
caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding 
thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  not  entitled  to  vote 
at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  othei 
than  the  voter^s  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's 
own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting 
to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the 
same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  noi 
exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  willfully  alters,  or  willfully 
makes  any  change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  upon  the  voting 
list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control 
of  such  voting  list,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change 
erasure,  or  additional  check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting  listj 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty 
days.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  im- 
posed by  law  upon  election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who 
violate  the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are 
hereby  imposed  upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers 
and  voters  for  the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person 
detected  in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  20.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 
town  clerk  of  said  town,  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed 
with  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town. 

Sec.  21.  The  town  committees-elect  in  said  town  at  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provisions. 

Sec.  22.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  June  1st, 
A.  D.  1912. 


\ 


ELECTION"   LAWS.  237 


CHAPTER  1041. 


Approved 


AN   ACT   IN   AMENDMENT   OF    SECTION   4   OF    CHAPTER   51    OF   THE    April  n,  1»14. 
GENERAL    LAWS,    ENTITLED   "  OF    THE   TOWN    CLERK/' 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.     Section  4  of  Chapter  51  of  the  General  Laws  is 
hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows: 

"  Sec.  4.     If  any  town  clerk,   excepting  the  town   clerk   of  Town  clerk, 

•^  '  r       o  where  to  be. 

Little  Compton,  shall  absent  himself  from  his  oJBfice  between  9  :00  b^or^eiStion 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and  12  :00  o'clock  at  noon,  or  between 
2 :00  o'clock  and  5 :00  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  of  any  day 
except  Sunday,  within  twenty  days  next  preceding  any  meeting 
held  for  the  election  of  state  or  town  officers,  senators  or  repre- 
sentatives in  congress  or  electors  of  president  and  vice-president 
of  the  United  States,  he  shall  appoint  a  deputy  clerk,  whose  duty  J^  appoint, 
it  shall  be  to  attend  the  office  during  such  absence,  and  perform 
all  the  duties  thereof :  Provided^  that  it  shall  not  be  necessary 
to  appoint  a  deputy  clerk  under  this  section,  whenever  a  deputy 
has  been  or  shall  be  appointed  under  Section  2  of  this  chapter, 
and  continues  competent  to  act  during  any  period  covered  by 
this  section.'' 

Sec.  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage,  and  all 
acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby  repealed. 


CHAPTER  1113. 

AN   ACT   TRANSFERRING   THE   DUTIES   AND   POWERS    OF   THE    CITY  Approved 

May  4,  1914. 

CLERK  OF  THE  CITY  OF  PROVIDENCE  RELATIVE  TO  CAUCUSES 
AND  ELECTIONS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  CANVASSERS  AND  REGISTRA- 
TION  OF  SAID   CITY. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.     All  the  duties  and  powers  imposed  and  conferred 
upon  the  city  clerk  of  the  city  of  Providence  by  general  or  special 


238  ELECTIOX    LAWS. 

Serk*of'pt?vi-  ^^^^'  relative  to  the  issuance  of  warrants;  the  calling  of  ward^ 

to^efectioM^^  representative-district,  and  voting-district  meetings  for  the  elec- 

bL^^^can"  tion  of  officers  and  giving  notice  thereof  by  advertisement  anc 


regiff^atSn  nf    posting  the  same;  the  receipt  of  certificates  of  nomination  anc 


said  city. 


nomination-papers  and  requests  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  names 
of  any  candidates,  and  nominations  in  substitution  of  candi- 
dates so  withdrawing;  the  preparation  and  printing  of  ballots 
and  the  distribution  of  the  same;  the  certification  to  the  secre- 
tary of  state  of  the  number  of  voters  then  qualified  to  vote  in 
each  voting-district;  the  preparation  and  distribution  of  speci- 
men ballots  and  instruction  sheets  and  the  posting  of  the  same 
the  furnishing  of  any  supplies  necessary  for  use  at  any  caucus 
or  election ;  the  receipt  and  delivery  of  ballots,  together  with  the 
specimen  ballots  and  instruction  sheets  prepared  and  sent  by  the 
secretary  of  state;  the  delivery  to  the  warden  or  moderator  of 
each  voting  place  of  the  ballots  prepared,  sealed  and  marked 
for  each  such  voting-place  and  the  receipt  therefor  of  such  de- 
livery from  the  warden  or  moderator  present;  the  receipt  of  the 
record  book  of  the  election  officers ;  the  issuance  of  certificates  of 
election  to  officers  elected;  the  preparation  of  ballots  in  the  case 
of  adjourned  or  secondary  elections;  the  ordering  of  new  elec- 
tions to  fill  vacancies  in  the  office  of  senator  or  representative  in 
the  general  assembly,  or  in  the  case  of  a  new  election  for  a  rep- 
resentative in  congress;  and  any  and  all  other  his  duties  and 
powers  relative  to  caucuses,  the  preparation  of  ballots  and  elec- 
tions in  said  city  of  Providence,  are  hereby  transferred  to  and 
imposed  and  conferred  upon  the  board  of  canvassers  and  regis- 
tration of  said  city  of  Providence.  Said  board  of  canvassers  and 
registration  shall  perform  and  execute  all  such  duties  and  powers 
according  to  law  and  shall  each  be  liable  for  any  and  all  penal- 
ties imposed  by  law  for  any  failure  so  to  do. 

Sec.  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  839 


CHAPTER  1156. 

AX    ACT    IX    RELATIOX    TO    THE    HOLDIXG    OF    CAUCUSES    IX    THE  Approved 

May  6,  1914. 
TOWN  OF  WEST  WARWICK. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.     In  the  town  of  West  Warwick  the  caucuses  of  all  Political  party 

defined. 

political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is 
hereby  defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of 
state  officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per 
cent  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus 
and  convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political 
parties. 

Sec  2.     The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  each  District  oom- 

^  r  r        J  mittee,  how 

representative-district  of  said  town  shall,  annually,  at  the  cau-  elected, 
cus  held  in  each*  representative-district   of  said  town   to  elect 
delegates  to  a  convention  to  nominate  a  town  council  and  other 
town  officers,  elect  a  district  committee  for  each  representative- 
district  of  said  town. 

The  members  of  the  several  district  committees  of  the  same  Town  com- 
mittee, how 
political  party  shall  constitute  the  town  committee  of  such  polit-  constituted. 

ical  party  for  that  town.    Each  town  committee  shall  within  ten 

days  after  its  organization  file  with  the  secretary  of  state  a  list 

of  its  officers  and  members.    They  shall  also  file  a  like  list  with 

the  town  clerk  of  said  town. 

The  general  management  of  the  aifairs  of  each  political  party  Powers  and 

duties  of. 

in  said  town  shall  be  vested  in  its  town  committee,  subject  to 
the  rules  and  regulations  which  the  state  committee  of  such 
political  party  shall  make.  Any  vacancies  occurring  in  any  of  vacancies 
the  offices  or  in  the  membership  of  said  town  committee  shall  be 
filled  by  such  committee,  and  any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  mem- 
bership of  a  district  committee  shall  be  filled  by  the  remaining 
members  of  such  district  committee.    A  statement  of  such  action 


240 


ELECTION"    LAWS. 


Oonunittees, 
term  of  office 
of  members  of. 


Further  powers 
and  duties  of 
committees. 


Caucuses,    how 
called. 


Town  clerk  to 
be  notified  of 
date  of  caucus 
and  to  furnish 
polling-places 
therefor. 


of  any  committee  thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers 
and  members  first  chosen.  District  and  town  committees  shall 
hold  office  from  the  date  of  their  election  until  the  next  annual 
election  of  such  committees  and  thereafter  until  their  successors 
shall  have  organized.  Town  committees  may  make  regulations, 
not  inconsistent  with  law^  to  determine  membership  in  the  party 
and  to  restrain  those  not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by 
them  from  taking  part  therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be 
furnished  to  and  shall  govern  the  officers  by  this  act  charged 
with  the  duty  of  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  such  lists  so  far  as  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  the 
provisions  of  this  act.  Each  district  committee  shall  attend  the 
caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it  belongs  held  in  the  district 
from  which  it  was  elected  to  perform  the  duties  herein  imposed 
upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call  of 
the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  caucuses. 
The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than  five  days 
prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall  state  the 
places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of  holding 
the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be  open,  the 
business  to  be  transacted  thereat  and  the  uniform  size  of  the 
ballots  to  be  used  at  said  caucus  and  copies  of  said  call  shall  be 
posted  at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus  in 
six  or  more  public  places  in  said  town.  No  two  political  parties 
shall  hold  their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.  At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucus  in  said  town  the  chair- 
man of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  notify 
in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such  caucus,  by 
said  committee  and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selec- 
tion and  notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold 
its  caucus  on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses 
may  lawfully  be  held.  If  such  date  be  one  previously  so  selected 
and  notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  a 


Oaucuses,   when 
to  be  held. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  241 


caucus  may  not  lawfully  be  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and 
such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another 
date.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  ex- 
pense of  said  town  to  provide  polling  places  as  are  necessary  in 
said  town  for  said  caucuses,  and  to  notify  in  writing  such  chair- 
man as  to  the  place  so  provided  at  least  seven  days  prior  to  the 
date  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  5.  No  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the 
provisions  of  Section  16  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day 
for  filing  the  certificate  of  nominations  of  such  caucus,  nor  shall 
any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days.  All  cau- 
cuses excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election, 
shall  be  held  after  the  second  Thursday  next  after  the  first  Mon- 
day in  September  in  each  year.  All  caucuses  held  to  nominate 
candidates  for  town  officers  in  said  town,  excepting  those  cau- 
cuses necessary  for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  within 
twenty-five  days  of  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in 
November  in  each  year.  Caucuses  necess'ary  for  a  special  elec- 
tion shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before,  nor  within  two 
days,  exclusive,  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 


Sec.  6.  The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  Caucus  offl^^r- 
town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  holding  the  first  caucus  by  town  com- 
next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September,  appoint  a  caucus  mod- 
erator and  a  caucus  clerk  for  each  representative-district,  who 
shall  be  qualified  electors  of  such  district  and  members  of  such 
political  party:  Provided,  however,  that  the  moderator  and 
clerk  of  the  representative-district  shall  perform  the  duties  of 
caucus  moderator  and  clerk  at  the  caucuses  of  their  own  polit- 
ical party. 

Each  committee  making  such  appointment  shall  file  with  the 
town  clerk  at  least  one  day  previous  to  the  date  selected  by  its 
party  for  holding  any  caucus,  the  names  of  the  persons  appointed 
16 


H2 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Town  com- 
mittee may 
reroke  such 
appointments, 
when. 


Duties  jof 
caueoB  officers. 


by  them  caucus  officers  as  aforesaid;  and  all  caucus  officers  so 
appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the  first  day  in  January  next 
succeeding  their  appointment  and  thereafter  until  their  succes- 
sors are  appointed  and  shall  have  the  same  powers  and  duties, 
in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are  conferred  and  imposed  by  law 
upon  similar  officers  of  elective  meetings. 

In  case  of  a  change  of  the  lines  of  a  representative-district,  or 
of  a  redivision  of  any  representative-district  thereof  into  voting 
districts,  the  town  committee  of  each  political  party  thereof  may 
revoke  such  appointments  by  them  respectively  made  in  the  case 
of  all  caucus  moderators  and  clerks  who  by  reason  of  such  change 
or  redivision  become  ineligible  to  serve  on  account  of  residence, 
and  appoint  others  in  their  stead,  and  the  town  committee  of 
each  political  party  shall  appoint  a  caucus  moderator,  and  in 
each  new  representative-district  or  voting-district  so  created, 
if  necessary,  the  town  committee  of  each  political  party  shall 
appoint  a  caucus  moderator  and  clerk. 

Sec.  7.  The  caucus  moderator  appointed  or  acting  as  herein- 
before provided,  shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to 
order,  and  shall  preside  thereat.  Each  caucus  clerk  shall  check 
the  voting  list  of  the  district  in  which  he  serves.  In  case  a  cau- 
cus moderator  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called,  or  in  case  a  caucus  moderator  becomes  incapacitated 
during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  district  committee  or  a 
majority  of  the  members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall 
appoint  a  qualified  elector  of  such  party  residing  in  the  repre- 
sentative-district as  caucus  moderator  for  such  caucus.  If  no 
member  of  the  district  committee  is  present  the  clerk  shall  call 
the  meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some 
qualified  person  as  caucus  moderator  of  such  caucus.  In  case  a 
caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called  or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from  per- 
forming his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the 
district  committe  of  such  district,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  representative-district  as 


ELECTION   LAWS.  243 

such  caucus  clerk.  If  no  member  of  the  district  committee  be 
present,  the  caucus  moderator  shall  appoint  some  qualified  elec- 
tor as  aforesaid  as  caucus  clerk.     All  caucuses  shall  be  called  Hours  during 

which  iiollfl 

to  order  at  7 :00  o'clock  P.  M.  The  polls  shall  be  opened  at  or  must  remain 
before  7:30  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened 
and  the  interior  thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the 
moderator  before  any  ^ballots  are  cast.  Any  necessary  business 
not  finished  at  7  :30  P.  M.,  shall  be  postponed  until  after  the  polls 
are  closed  and  the  result  of  the  balloting  announced.  The  polls 
shall  be  kept  open  until  10:00  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  no  longer: 
Provided,  however,  that  in  the  event  of  but  one  nominated  for 
each  political  office  the  polls  shall  be  kept  open  thirty  minutes. 
Except  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  caucus  mod- 
erator and  caucus  clerk  as  hereinbefore  provided  in  this  section, 
a  ballot  shall  be  required  for  the  choice  of  all  candidates  for 
elective  offices,  for  delegates  to  convention,  and  for  members  of 
district  committee  to  be  elected  by  such  caucus.    All  ballots  shall  Form  of  caucu» 

•^  ballot. 

be  printed  on  white  paper,  of  uniform  size,  to  be  determined  by 
the  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  town,  and  no 
tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any  caucus  ballot.  The  names  of 
all  candidates  for  which  any  elector  shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall 
be  written  or  printed  on  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.     No  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  who  may  not 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar  caucus^ 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other  polit- 
ical party  or  has  signed  nomination-papers  of  a  candidate  or 
candidates  for  any  elective  office:     Provided,  however,  that  the  Exception. 
provisions  of  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  caucuses  which  may 
be  held  in  said  town  in  the  year  1914. 

No  person  who  has  voted  in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party 
shall  l)e  eligible  to  sign  any  nomination-paper  containing  nom- 
inations of  candidates  witliin  fourteen  calendar  months  there- 
after. 

Sec,  9.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting  Town  clerk  to 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses.    A  voting  list  shall  be  prepared  for  lists. 


244 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Board  of  can- 
vassers to  can- 
vass and  cor- 
rect voting- 
lists. 


Same  subject. 


Town  clerk  to 
furnish  ballot 
boxes  and 
supplies. 


each  representative-district  and  each  voting-district.  At  all  cau- 
cuses the  vtoing  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to 
law  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used  as 
hereafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town  shall 
hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  each  year, 
and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to  the  earliest 
day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for  the  holding  of 
caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in  such  town,  to 
canvass  and  correct  the  voting  lists  of  electors  qualified.  Notice 
of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in  such  manner  as  such 
board  of  canvassers  shall  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists  speci- 
fied in  Section  9  of  this  act,  the  names  of  all  persons  shown  by 
the  nomination-papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus  voting 
lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk  to  be  debarred  from  vot- 
ing in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  Section  8  of  this  act, 
or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations  of  such  town  committee 
adopted  under  the  provisions  of  Section  2  of  this  act,  to  be  not 
entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses. 

Sec.  11.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  is  hereby  authorized 
and  required  to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable 
ballot  boxes,  blank  forms  of  certificates,  ballots  and  other  elec- 
tion stationery  for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held, 
and  to  cause  the  voting  lists  and  ballots  prepared  as  aforesaid 
to  be  delivered  at  each  polling  place  to  the  caucus  moderator 
prior  to  the  hour  of  7  :00  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on 
which  any  such  caucus  is  to  be  held;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the 
duty  of  the  chief  of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of 
police  officers  to  each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of 
order  and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  and  ballots  aforesaid,  as  may 
be  requested  by  the  town  clerk  of  said  town. 

Sec.  12.     The  caucus  moderator  shall  receive  the  ballot  of 


ELECTION   LAWS.  245 

all  persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  fur-  Caucus 

^  ^  moderator  to 

nished  to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons.  '*^'''®  baUotg. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus  vote,  how 
moderator  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the  raiity  to  elect, 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 
by  the  caucus  moderator  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 
may  be.     The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith  Return  of 

ballots,  votingr- 

separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  of  lists,  etc 
the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 
of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 
by  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.     In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation  in  case  of  tie 

vote,  etc., 

to  any  convention,  or  of  any  district  committee,  are  not  elected,  what  action  to 

be  taken. 

or  in  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  an  elective  office,  the  caucus  shall 
adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said  caucus  by 
the  caucus  moderator,  but  not  to,  any  day  at  which  a  caucus 
of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  a 
smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a  convention, 
or  of  the  members  of  a  district  committee,  the  elected  members 
of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the  vacancies  so 
caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the  person  or 
officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the  delegates 
to  a  convention  shall  have  power,  to  fill  vacancies  in  their  number 
appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  convention. 

Sec.  15.     The  moderator  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty-  Moderator  to 

four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each  dele-  cates  of  elec- 
tion and  nom- 
gate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a  political  Nation. 

committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each  candidate  for 

an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination,  and  shall  also 

cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by  law  in  the  case 

of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such  caucus  for  any 

elective  office  to  be  prepared  a-nd  seasonably  filed  in  the  proper 


246 


ELECTION   LAAYS. 


Verification 
of  check-list 
by  clerk. 


Proviaions  for 
recount    of 
baUotiL 


Notice  of 
recount. 


Method  of 
recount  and 
hearing  there- 
on. 


public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount  of  the  ballots  at 
such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the  provisions  of 
Section  16  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall  not  deliver,  send 
or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates.  Upon  the  check  list 
used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  checking  such  list  shall  make  a 
return  under  oath  that  the  said  check  list  is  the  identical  one 
used  in  the  caucus  of  the  political  party  for  which  it  was  fur- 
nished, and  that  the  names  checked  were  truly  and  properly 
checked  at  such  caucus,  and  that  no  alteration  or  erasure  or 
additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.  If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or  polit- 
ical committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town  a 
statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 
caucus  officers  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying  where- 
in the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or  nomina- 
tion by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning  for  a  re- 
count of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town, 
such  towTi  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus 
until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the  nomination 
or  election  is  fully  determined  as  hereafter  provided.  The  town 
clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  shall  forthwith  notify 
the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  his  town  of  the  filing 
of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  of  can- 
vassers to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause  notice  in  writing  to 
be  served  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of  canvassers  shall  direct, 
upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same  office  receiving  votes  at 
said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  petitioner,  of  the  filing  of  such 
petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall  appoint  a  time  and  place  for 
the  recount  of  said  ballots,  within  twenty-four  hours,  exclusive 
of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from  the  time  of  ordering  such 
notice.  At  the  time  specified  by  said  board  of  canvassers  said 
town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board  all  the  ballots  cast  at 


ELECTION  LAWS.  247 

such  caucus  and  the  voting  list  used  thereat,  and  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers  shall  proceed 
to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and  determine  all  questions 
raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the  same  or  of  any  thereof, 
and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such  recount  and  determina- 
tion, what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully  elected  or  nominated  at 
such  caucus.     Such  declaration  shall  stand  as  the  true  record  Recount  to  be 

conclusive  and 

and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  official  ballots 

^  i^      r  to  be  prepared 

shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons  so  declared  to  be  nom-  accordingly, 
inated  for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed  upon  the  official  bal- 
lots, in  accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such  recount  and  deter- 
mination made  and  filed  with  him  by  said  board,  which  certifi-  ' 
cate  shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of  hold- 
ing such  caucus.  Said  board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  delegate 
and  member  of  a  committee,  so  declared  to  be  elected,  a  certifi- 
cate of  his  election.    Any  candidate  receiving  votes  at  such  cau-  candidate  or 

*^  his  representa- 

cus  for  such  nomination  or  office  may  be  present  during  such  tive  may  be 

•^  ^  °  present  at 

recount,  either  in  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  recount, 
writing. 

Sec.  17.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal  Town  clerk  to 

retain  imder 

for  the  period  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  lists  seal  au  used 

^  *=•  voting  lists,  for 

returned  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act :  Provided,  "^^^^  period, 
that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  pro-  Ligt^  j^ay  be 
vided  for  in  Sections  10  and  16  of  this  act,  after  which  they 
shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after 
a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act  upon  written  application  for  a 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the 
said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender 
of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
reseal  the  same. 


unsealed. 


Sec.  18.     Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 


Penalties 


248  ELECTION   LAWS. 

shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars 
Dor  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for 
a  period  not  exceeding  six  months  or  both.  Every  person  at  a 
caucus  who  knowing  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or 
attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own,  or  votes  or 
attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name,  or  deposits 
or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any  candidate 
for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  or  member 
of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  at  any  cau- 
cus gives  a  false  answer  to  the  caucus  clerk  or  the  presiding 
officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  such  caucus, 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  six 
months.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  not  entitled  to  vote  at 
a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  other 
than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's 
own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting 
to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the 
same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not 
exceeding  six  months.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the 
penalties  imposed  by  law  upon  election  and  other  officers  and 
voters  who  violate  the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective 
meetings  are  hereby  imposed  upon  the  like  caucus  and  other 
officers  and  voters  for  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Arregt  without  ^EC.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peaee 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  de- 
tected in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

S^rf  t7furni«h  ^^^-  ^^'  "^^^  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 
S^nomiiStion  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  towii  copics  of  all  nomination  papers  filed 
papers.  ^,-^j^  j^-^^  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town. 

Present  town  Sec.  21.  The  town  committee  in  said  town  at  the  time  of  the 

oommittee  con- 
tinued In  office,  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same  manner 

and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected  under  its 

provisions. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  249 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  June  1, 
A.  D.  1914. 


CHAPTER  1303. 

AN    ACT    IN    RELATION    TO    THE    HOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE    Approved 

April  7,  1915. 
TOWN   OF   NARRAGANSETT. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  In  the  town  of  N'arragansett,  the  caucuses  of  all 
political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act,  and  such  provisions  shall  apply  only  in  said  town. 
For  the  purpose  of  this  act^  a  political  party  is  hereby  defined  "^^^H^^n  ^ 
to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of  state  officers 
cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per  cent,  of  all 
the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus  and  conven- 
tion nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political  parties. 

Sec.  2.     The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said  iiethod  of 

^  JT  X        ./  electing-  town 

town  shall  bienniallv,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  oommittee,  and 

"  ^  o  powers    and 

convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a  town  ^^^^^  thereof. 
committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall  within 
ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of  state  a 
list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  management  of 
the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be  vested  in 
its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  which 
the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make.  Any  va- 
cancy occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  membership  of 
said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee.  A  state- 
ment thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and  members 
first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from  the  date 
of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of  such  com- 
mittees and  thereafter  until  their  successors  have  organized. 
Town  committees  may  make  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with 
law,  to  determine  membership  in  the  party  and  to  restrain  those 


250 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Caucuses, 
how  called. 


Town  clerk  to 
be  notififHl  o' 
date  of  caucus 
and  to  furnish 
polling-places 
therefor. 


not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them  from  taking  part 
therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall 
govern  the  officers  by  this  act  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing 
caucus  voting  lists  in  the  preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they 
are  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act.  Each  town 
committee  shall  attend  the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it  be- 
longs, to  perform  the  duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call 
of  the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  cau- 
cuses. The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than 
five  days  prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It  shall 
state  the  places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour  of 
holding  the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be 
open,  the  business  to  be  transacted  thereat  (and  the  uniform 
size  of  the  ballots  to  be  used  in  said  caucus),  and  said  call  shall 
be  posted,  at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus, 
in  six  or  more  public  places  in  said  town.  ^"0  two  political 
parties  shall  hold  their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.  At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucuses  in  said  town  the 
chairman  of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall 
notify,  in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such 
caucuses,  and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and 
notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its  cau- 
cuses on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may 
be  lawfully  held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and 
notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  cau- 
cuses may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and 
such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another 
date.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the  ex- 
pense of  said  town  of  Narragansett,  to  provide  a  polling  place 
in  said  town  for  said  caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing  such 
chairman  as  to  the  place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days  piior 
to  the  date  of  such  caucuses. 


d 


ELECTION  LAWS.  251 

Sec.  5.  No  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  JJf"be1beid^^^ 
provisions  of  Section  14  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holdiays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus,  nor  shall 
any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days.  All  cau- 
cuses held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  convention  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  governor  and  to  nominate  candidates  for  the  gen- 
eral assembly  from  said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses  neces- 
sary for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second  Thurs- 
day next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September,  biennially.  All 
caucuses  held  to  nominate  candidates  for  town  officers  in  said 
town,  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election, 
shall  be  held  within  twenty-five  days  of  the  first  Monday  in 
June  in  each  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election 
shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten '  days  before,  nor  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day 
for  filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.     The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  caucus  offlcen 

^  r        J  jQ  Ijg  selected 

town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus,  ^j^t^^  *^°™' 
appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  and  assistant  cau- 
cus clerks,  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  said  town,  who  shall 
be  qualified  electors  of  said  town,  and  members  of  such  polit- 
ical party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such  offices 
from  any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  Caucus  chair- 
men and  caucus  clerks  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the  "^^""8  of  office, 
first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  appointment  and 
thereafter  until  their  successors  are  appointed,  and  shall  have 
the  same  powers  and  duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are 
conferred  by  law  upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks  of  elective 
meetings. 

Sec.  7.     The  caucus  chairman  appointed,  as  hereinbefore  pro-  caucus,  how 

^^  ^  conducted,  etc. 

vided,  shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order  and  shall 
preside  thereat,  and  the  caucus  clerk  and  assistant  caucus  clerks 
shall  check  the  voting  list.  In  case  a  caucus  chairman  is  absent 
at  the  time  ai  which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in  case  iTcau- 


252 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Hours  during 
which  polls 
must  remain 
open. 


Form  of  cau- 
cus ballot. 


cus  chairman  becomes  incapacitated  during  the  holding  of  the 
caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a  majority  of  the  members 
thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a  qualified  elector 
of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as  caucus  chairman  for  such 
caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the 
clerk  of  such  caucus,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence  or  incapacity, 
then  any  qualified  elector  of  such  political  party  shall  call  the 
meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some  quali- 
fied person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In  case  a  caucus 
clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called, 
or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from  perform- 
ing his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  the  town 
committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall  appoint 
some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk.  If  no 
member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the  caucus  chairman 
shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as  caucus  clerk. 
All  caucuses  shall  be  called  to  order  at  seven-thirty  o'clock  P.  M. 
All  nominations  of  candidates  for  oflBce  shall  be  made  before  the 
opening  of  the  polls,  and  no  ballot  shall  be  counted  for  any  can- 
didate for  office  not  so  nominated.  The  polls  shall  be  opened  at 
eight  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall  be  opened  and  the  interior 
thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the  chairman  be- 
fore any  ballots  are  cast.  Any  necessary  business  not  finished 
at  eight  P.  M.  shall  be  postponed  until  after  the  polls  are  closed 
and  the  result  of  the  balloting  announced.  The  polls  shall  be 
kept  open  until  ten  P.  M.,  and  no  longer:  Provided,  however, 
that  in  the  event  of  but  one  nomination  for  each  political  office 
the  polls  shall  be  kept  open  thirty  minutes.  Except  for  the 
filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  caucus  chairman  and  caucus 
clerk,  as  hereinbefore  provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be 
required  for  the  choice  of  all  candidates  for  elective  offices,  foi 
delegates  to  conventions,  and  for  members  of  town  committees, 
to  be  elected  by  such  caucuses.  All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or 
written  on  white  paper,  of  uniform  size  to  be  determined  by 
the  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  town,  and  no 


ELECTION   LAWS.  253 

tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any  caucus  ballot.  The  names  of 
all  candidates  for  which  any  elector  shall  vote  at  any  caucus 
shall  be  written  or  printed  upon  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.  Xo  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  who  may  par- 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar  caucus.^ 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other  polit- 
ical party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate  or 
candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 
placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers^  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such  party  pro- 
vided for  in  Section  2  of  this  act.  No  person  who  has  voted  in 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible  to  sign  any 
nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  candidates  within 
fourteen  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  vot-  Town  clerk  to 

prepare  voting- 

ing  lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.     At  all  cau-  lists. 
cuses  the  voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to 
law  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  cor- 
rected as  hereinafter  provided.     The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  voting-usts, 

when  to  be 

town  shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  canvassed  and 

°  .  corrected. 

preceding  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber in  each  year  in  which  an  election  of  state  officers  is  held  and 
on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the  first  Monday  in  June 
in  each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to 
the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for  the 
holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in  such 
town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting  liste  of  electors  qualified. 
Notice  of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in  such  manner 
as  such  board  of  canvassers  shall  respectively  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.     In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses  what  names  to 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists  speci-  from  voting- 
fied  in  Section  9  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons  shown  by 
the  nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus  voting 
lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk,  to  be  debarred  from 


254 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Town  clerk  to 
furnish  ballot 
boxes  and 
supplies. 


Caucus  chair- 
man to  receive 
or  reject  what 
ballots. 


Vote,  how 
counted,  etc. 
plurality  to 
elect. 


Return  of  bal- 
lots and  voting 
lists. 


In  case  of  tie 
vote,  etc,  what 
action  to  be 
taken. 


voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  Section  8  of  this 
act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations  of  such  political  party 
to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses.  Each  such  list  shall 
be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political  party,  and  shall  be 
certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.  The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required 
to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot-boxes, 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election  sta- 
tionery, for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held,  and 
to  cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered  at 
each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior  to  the  hour 
of  seven-thirty  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  any 
such  caucus  is  to  be  held ;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the 
,  chief  of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of  police 
officers  to  each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of  order, 
and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  requested  by 
said  town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.  The  caucus  chairman  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all 
persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished 
to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus 
chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  th»^ 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 
by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 
may  be.  The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith 
separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  of 
the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 
of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 
by  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.  In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation  tol 
any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee,  are  not  elected,  or  in 
ease  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  ;\'.^ 

caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 
caucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie  Delegates  to 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a  fiu^Ssancies!^'' 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
inem})ers  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the  va- 
cancies so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  con- 
vention. 

Sec.  15.     The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty-  chairman  to 
four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each  mcS^  oreiec- 
delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a  polit-  nation, 
ical  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each  candi- 
date for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination,  and 
shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by  law  in 
the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such  caucus  for 
any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably  filed  in  the 
proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount  of  the  bal- 
lots cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the  pro- 
visions of  Section  16  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall  not  de- 
liver, send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates.    Upon  each  clerks  to  ventj 
check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  and  assistant  caucus 
clerks  checking  such  list  shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that  the 
said  check  list  is  the  identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the  polit- 
ical party  for  which  it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names  checked 
were  truly  and  properly  checked  at  such  caucus,  and  that  no 
alteration  or  erasure  or  additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.     If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  Provisiona  fo» 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro-  bliiot^ 
visions  of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or  polit- 
ical committee'  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town  a 
statement  in  ^vriting  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 


256 


ELECTION*   LAWS. 


Notice  of 
recount. 


caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying  where- 
in the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or  nomina- 
tion by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning  for  a  re- 
count of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town, 
such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus 
until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the  nomination 
or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter  provided.  The 
town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  shall  forthwith 
notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  his  town  of  the 
filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  of 
canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause  notice  in  writing 
to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of  canvassers  shall 
direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same  office  receiving 
votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  petitioner,  of  the  filing 
of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall  appoint  a  time  and 
place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  witiiin  twenty-four  hours, 

exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from  the  time  of  order- 
Method  of  re- 

i^^^X^^^ir!^^"'  ^^S  such  notice.  At  the  time  specified  by  said  board  of  can- 
vassers said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board  all  the  bal- 
lots cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting  list  used  thereat,  and  at 
the  appointed  time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers  shall  pro- 
ceed to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and  determine  all  ques- 
tions raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the  same  or  of  any 
thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such  recount  and  de- 
termination, what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully  elected  or  nom- 
inated at  such  caucus.  Such  declaration  shall  stand  as  the  tru€ 
record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  the  proper 
officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons  so  declared  to  be 
nominated  for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed  upon  the  official 
ballots,  in  accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such  recount  and  de 
termination  made  and  filed  with  him  by  said  board,  which  certifi- 
cate shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of  hold- 
ing such  caucus.  Said  board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  delegate 
and  member  of  a  committee,  so  declared  to  be  elected,  a  certifi- 


ing  thereon. 


Recount  to  be 
conclusive  and 
official  baUots 
to   be   prepared 
accordingly. 


ELECTION-   LAWS.  267 

cate  of  his  election.    Any  candidate  receiving  votes  at  such  cau-  ^^^^^  °\^, 
cus  for  such  nomination  or  office  may  be  present  during  such  re-  pr^eS^^we- 
count,  either  in  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing.  ^""*' 
Sec.  17.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  T<mn  cierk  to 

retain    under 

seal  for  the  period  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  vofing\iSf for 
lists  returned  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act :    Provided,  "^^^^  penod. 
that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  pro-  Lists  may  be 

''  r  o     r  unsealed,  when. 

vided  for  in  Sections  10  and  16  of  this  act,  after  which  they 
shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after 
a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  application  for  a 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the 
said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender 
of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.     Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party  Penaiti«i. 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon  \ 

him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  exceed- 
ing thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who,  know- 
ing that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to  vote,  or 
votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own,  or 
votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name, 
or  deposits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any 
candidate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  or 
member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  at 
any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus  clerk  or  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  such 
caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding 
thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  so  entitled  to  vote 
at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  other 
17 


"25^  ELECTION   LAWS. 

than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's 
own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting 
to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the 
same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not 
exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  willfully  alters,  or  willfully 
makes  any  change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  upon  the  voting 
list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control 
•of  such  voting  list,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change, 
erasure,  or  additional  check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting  list, 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty 
days.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  im- 
posed by  law  upon  election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who 
violate  the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are 
hereby  imposed  upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers 
and  voters  for  the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Arrest  without  Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  de- 
tected in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Secretary  of  Sec.  20.     The  Secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 

state  to  furnish 

copies  of  cer-      town  clcrk  of  Said  town  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed 

tain  nomina-  ^  ^     ^ 

tion  papers.        ^ith  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town. 

Town  commit-  Sec.  21.  The  town  committees  elect  in  said  town  at  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provisions. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


•erve. 


ELECTION    LAWS.  259 


CHAPTER  1311. 

AN    ACT    IN    RELATION    TO    THE    HOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE   Approved 

April  23,  1915. 
TOWN   OF   NORTH   KINGSTOWN. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assemhly  as  follows: 

Section  1.     In  the  town  of  North  Kingstown,  the  caucuses  "Political 

°  party  "  defined. 

of  all  political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  this  act.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act  a  political 
party  is  hereby  defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding 
election  of  state  officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at 
least  two  per  cent,  of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that 
officer.  Caucus  and  convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only 
by  political  parties. 

Sec.    2.     The   qualified   electors    of   each   political   party    in  Method  of 

electing'  town 

said  town  shall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  held  to  elect  delegates  committee,  and 

°  powers  and 

to  the  convention  to  nominatie  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  ^utiea  thereof, 
a  town  committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall, 
within  ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of 
state  a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall  be 
vested  in  its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions which  the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall 
make.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the 
membership  of  said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  corn- 
committee.  A  statement  thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of 
officers  and  members  first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold 
office  from  the  date  of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial 
election  of  such  town  committees  and  thereafter  until  their 
successors  have  organized.  Town  committees  may  make  regula- 
tions, not  inconsistent  with  law,  to  determine  membership  in 
the  party  and  to  restrain  those  not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses 
called  by  them  from  taking  part  therein,  and  such  regulations 
shall  be  furnished  to  and  shall  govern  the  officers  by  this  act 
charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  in  the 


260 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Caucuses,  how 
called. 


preparation  of  such  lists,  so  far  as  they  are  not  in  conflict  with 
the  provisions  of  this  act.  Each  town  committee  shall  attend 
the  caucuses  of  the  party  to  which  it  belongs,  to  perform  the 
duties  herein  imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.  All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call 
of  the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  cau- 
cuses. The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than 
five  days  prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It 
shall  state  the  places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the 
hour  of  holding  the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are 
to  be  open,  the  business  to  be  transacted  thereat,  and  the  uni- 
form size  of  the  ballots  to  be  used  in  said  caucus,  and  said  call 
shall  be  posted,  at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said 
caucus,  in  six  or  more  public  places  in  said  town.  No  two 
political  parties  shall  hold  their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 
Town  clerk  to        Sec.  4.     At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a 

be  notified  of 

date  of  caucus    political  partv   desires  to  hold   its   caucuses  in   said   town   the 

and  to  furnish      i  a        ./ 

polling  places  chairman  of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall 
notify,  in  writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such 
caucuses,  and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection 
and  notification  for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its 
caucuses  on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may 
be  lawfully  held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected 
and  notified  by  some  other  political  party  or  is  one  on  which 
caucuses  may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be 
immediately  notified,  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk, 
and  such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another 
date.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the 
expense  of  said  town  of  North  Kingstown,  to  provide  a  polling 
place  in  said  town  for  said  caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing 
such  chairman  as  to  the  place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days 
prior  to  the  date  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  5.  No  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the 
provisions  of  Section  14  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two 
days,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 


therefor. 


Caucuses,   when 
to  be  held. 


ELECTION   LAWS.  261 

filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus,  nor  shall 
any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days.  All  cau- 
cuses, excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election, 
shall  be  held  after  the  second  Thursday  next  after  the  first 
Monday  in  September.  All  caucuses  held  to  nominatie  candi- 
dates for  town  officers  in  said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses 
necessary  for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  within  twenty- 
five  days  of  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber. Caucuses  necessary  for  a  specal  election  shall  be  held  not 
more  than  ten  days  before,  nor  within  two  days,  exclusive  of 
Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for  filing  the  certifi- 
cates of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.     The  town  committee  of  each  political  partv  in  said  caucua  officers 

^  r        .  ^^  ^  selected 

town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus,  ^y  ^7^ 

•^      ^  '  committee. 

appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  for  said  town, 

who  shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  town,  in  which  they  are 

appointed  to  serve  as  members  of  such  political  party,  and  shall 

fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such  offices  from  any  cause, 

except  as  hereinafter  provided.   The  caucus  chairman  and  caucus  Terms  of  office. 

clerk  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until  the  first  day  of  January 

next  succeeding  their  appointment  and   theerafter  uptil  their 

successors  are  appointed,  and  shall  have  the  same  powers  and 

duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are  conferred  by  law  upon 

the  warden  and  ward  clerk  of  elective  meetings. 

Sec  7.     The  caucus  chairman  appointed,  as  hereinbefore  pro-  caucus,  how 

conducted,   etc. 

vided,  shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order,  and 
shall  preside  thereat.  The  caucus  clerk  shall  .check  the  voting 
list  of  the  town  at  said  caucus.  In  case  a  caucus  chairman  is 
absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in 
case  a  caucus  chairman  becomes  incapacitated  during  the  hold- 
ing of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a  majority  of  the 
members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a  quali- 
fied elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as  caucus  chair- 
man for  such  caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee 
is  present,  the  clerk  of  the  caucus  in  such  town,  shall  call  the 


262  ELECTION    LAWS. 

meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect  some  quali- 
fied person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In  case  the  cau- 
cus clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been 
called,  or  in  case  the  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from 
performing  his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus, 
the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk. 
If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  tlie  caucus 
chairman  shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as 
Hours  during       caucus  clcrk.     All  caucuscs  shall  be  called  to  order  at  seven 

which  poll* 

must  remain  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  polls  shall  be  opcn  at  or  before  seven-thirty 
P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  box  shall  be  opened  and  the  interior 
thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  present  by  the  chairman  before 
any  ballots  are  cast.  Any  necessary  business  not  finished  at 
seven-thirty  P.  M.  shall  be  postponed  until  after  the  polls  are 
closed  and  the  result  of  the  balloting  announced.  The  polls  shall 
be  kept  open  until  ten  P.  M.,  and  no  longer:  Provided,  how- 
ever, that  in  the  event  of  but  one  nomination  for  each  political 
office  the  polls  shall  be  kept  open  thirty  minutes.  Except  for 
the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  caucus  chairman  and 
caucus  clerk,  as  hereinbefore  provided  in  this  section,  a  ballot 
shall  be  required  for  the  choice  of  all  candidates  for  elective 
offices,  for  delegates  to  conventions,  and  for  members  of  town 

bXt.""'  ''^''''"*  committees,  to  be  elected  by  such  caucuses.  iVll  ballots  shall 
be  printed  or  written  on  white  paper,  of  uniform  size,  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said  town, 
and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any  caucus  ballot.  Tlie 
names  of  all  candidates  for  which  any  elector  shall  vote  at  any 
caucus  shall  be  written  or  printed  upon  one  ballot. 

Who  may  par-         Sec.  8.     No  pcrson  sliall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in  the 

ticipate  in  ^  ^ 

caucus.  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  twenty-six  calendar 

months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other 
political  party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate 
or  candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 


ELECTION   LAWS.  263 

placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such  party  pro- 
vided for  in  Section  2  of  this  act.  No  person  who  has  voted 
in  the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligibe  to  sign  any 
nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  candidates  within  ' 
twenty-six  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.     The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting  Town  clerk 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.     At  all  caucuses  votfng^ii^. 
the  voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.     The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town  voting-Utta^ 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preced-  canvaaaed  and 
ing  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in 
each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to 
the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for  the 
holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in  such 
town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting  lists  of  electors  quali- 
fied.   Notice  of  said  canvass  meeting  shall  be  given  in  sucli  man- 
ner as  such  board  of  canvassers  shall  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses  what  names 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists  fronf  fo?hig™ 
specified  in  Section  9  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons  shown 
by  the  nomination  papers,  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus 
voting  lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk,  to  be  debarred 
from  voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  Section  8  of 
this  act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulation  of  such  political 
party  to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses.  Each  such  list 
shall  be  endorsed  with  the  name  of  such  political  party,  and 
shall  be  certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.     The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  ?*'^ah°S}5^J®' 
to  furnish  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot  boxes,  Jj^p^Jj^^ 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election  sta- 
tionery, for  the  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held,  and  to 
cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered  at 
such  polling   place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior  to  the  hour 


264 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Caucus  chair- 
man to  receive 
or  reject  what 
ballots. 


Vote,  how 
counted,  etc.; 
plurality  to 
elect. 


Return  of  bal- 
lots and  voting- 
lists. 


la  case  of  tie 
rote,  etc., 
what  action  to 
be  tak«i. 


Delegates  to 
convention  may 
fill  vacancies. 


of  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  any  such 
caucus  is  to  be  held ;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  town 
sergeant  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of  police  constables 
or  constables  to  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation  of  order, 
and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  requested  by 
said  town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.  The  caucus  chairman  shall  receive  the  ballots  of 
all  persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  fur- 
nished to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.  Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus 
chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the 
ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 
appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 
caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 
cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 
by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominatied,  as  the  case 
may  be.  The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith 
separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result 
of  the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the 
case  of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in 
person  by  the  caucus  clerk,  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.  In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation 
to  any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee,  are  not  elected, 
or  in  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office, 
the  caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at 
said  caucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at 
which  a  caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case 
of  a  tie  vote  for  a  smaller  number  than  a  majority  of  the  dele- 
gates to  a  convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee, 
the  elected  members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall 
fill  the  vacancies  so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action 
to  the  person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all 
cases  the  delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacan- 


ELECTION   LAWS.  265 

cies  in  their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of 
such  convention. 

Sec.  15.     The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty-  chairman  to 
four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each  tmcates  of 

election  and 

delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a  nomination. 

political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each 

candidate  for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination, 

and  shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by 

law  in  the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominatied  by  such 

caucus  for  any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably  filed 

in  the  proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount  of 

the  ballots  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the 

provisions  of  Section  16  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall  not 

deliver,  send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates.     Upon  cjerka  to  verify 

'  '  •         "^  ^  check   list. 

the  check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  checking  such  list 
shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that  the  said  check  list  is  the 
identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the  political  party  for  which 
it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names  checked  were  truly  and 
properly  checked  at  such  caucus,  and  that  no  alteration  or 
erasure  or  additional  check  has  been  made  thereon. 

Sec.  16.     If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  ^^^J^";/""' 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro-  ^*"°** 
visions  of  this  act,  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination   or   election   to   any  elective   office,    delegation,    or 
political  committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town 
a  statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 
caucus    officers,    as  aforesaid,    are    erroneous,    and    specifying 
wherein  the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or 
nomination  by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning 
for  a  recount  of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said 
town,  such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such 
caucus  until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the 
nomination  or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided.    The  town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  J^^St.°' 
shall  forthwith  notify  the  members  of  fhe  board  of  canvassers 


266 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Method  of  re- 
count and  hear- 
ing thereon. 


Recount  to  be 
conclusive  and 
official    ballots 
to   be    prepared 
accordingly. 


Candidate  or 
his  representa- 
tive may  be 
present  at 
recount. 


To'wn  clerk  to 
retain  under 
seal  all  used 
voting  lists,  for 
what  period. 


Lists  may  be 
unsealed,  when. 


I 


of  his  town  of  the  filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  said  board  of  canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to 
cause  notice  in  writing  to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said 
board  of  canvassers  shall  direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for 
the  same  office  receiving  votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of 
the  petitioner,  of  the  filing  of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and 
shall  appoint  a  time  and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots 
within  twenty-four  hours,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holi- 
days, from  the  time  of  ordering  such  notice.  At  the  time 
gpecified  by  said  board  of  canvassers  said  town  clerk  shall  trans- 
mit to  such  board  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the 
voting  lists  used  thereat,  and  at  the  appointed  time  and  place 
said  board  of  canvassers  shall  proceed  to  recount  said  ballots 
and  to  hear  and  determine  all  questions  raised  for  or  against 
the  countin.2:  of  the  same  or  of  any  thereof,  and  shall  declare, 
as  the  result  of  such  recount  and  determination,  what  persons, 
if  any,  were  lawfully  elected  or  nominatied  at  such  caucus. 
Sueh  declaration  shall  st-and  as  the  true  record  and  result  of 
the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  the  proper  officer  shall  cause 
the  names  of  the  persons  so  declared  to  be  nominated  for  any 
elective  office  to  be  printed  upon  the  official  ballots,  in  accordance 
with  a  certificate  of  such  recount  and  determination  made  and 
filed  with  him  by  said  board,  which  eertificate  shall  be  deemed  to 
be  made  and  filed  as  of  the  day  of  holding  such  caucus.  Said 
board  shall  also  furnish  to  each  delegate  and  member  of  a  com- 
mittee, so  declared  to  be  elected,  a  certificate  of  his  election. 
Any  candidate  receiving  votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  nomina- 
tion or  office  may  be  present  during  such  recount,  either  in 
person  or    by  an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing. 

Sec.  17.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal 
for  a  period  of  twenty-six  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting 
lists  returned  to  him  under  the  provision  of  this  act :  Provided, 
that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  pro- 
vided for  in  Sections  10  and  16  of  this  act,  after  which  they 
shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after 


ELECTION   LAWe.  267 

I 

a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  application  for  a 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the 
said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender 
of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the  • 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.  Every  public  officer  of  officer  of  a  political  party  Penaitiei. 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen,  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not 
exceeding  thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who, 
knowing  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to 
vote,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name 
than  liis  own,  or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than 
once  upon  his  own  name,  or  deposits  or  attempts  to 
deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any  candidate  for  any 
elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  or  member  of  any 
political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  at  any  caucus 
gives  a  false  answer  to  the  caucus  clerk  or  the  presiding  officer 
of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  such  caucus,  shall 
be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 
Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  not  entitled  to  vote  at  a  caucus 
in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  other  than  the 
voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's  own  name, 
or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting  to  deposit 
at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the  same  ballot- 
ing, shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding 
thirty  days.  Whoever  willfully  alters,  or  willfully  makes  any 
change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  upon  the  voting  list  used 
or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control  of  such 
voting  list,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change, 
erasure,  or  additional  check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting  list, 


268 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


Arrest  without 
warrant. 


Bttcretary  of 
■late  to  furnish 
copies  of  cer 
tain  nomina- 
tion papers. 


Town   commit- 
tees elect,  to 


I 


shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty 
days.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties 
imposed  by  law  upon  election  and  other  officers  and  voters  who 
violate  the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are 
hereby  imposed  upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers 
and  voters  for  the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  detected 
in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  20.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the 
town  clerk  of  said  town  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed 
with  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town. 

Sec.  21.  The  town  committees  elect  in  said  town  at  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provision. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


CHAPTER  1422. 


^JS 


arch  29,  1916. 


Board  of  Can- 
Taasers  and 
■egistration, 
members  of, 
how  elected, 
and  terms  of. 


FOR  THE  CITY  OF   CENTRAL  FALLS. 

It  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  city  council  in  joint  convention  of  the  city 
of  Central  Falls,  forthwith  after  this  act  takes  effect,  and  there- 
after as  hereinafter  provided,  shall  elect  a  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration  for  said  city,  consisting  of  three  members,  who 
shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  city,  one  of  whom  shall  be 
designated  at  the  time  of  his  election  as  clerk  of  said  board.  At 
the  time  of  holding  the  first  election  of  members  of  said  board 
one  member  shall  be  elected  to  hold  office  until  the  first  Monday 
in  March,  A.  D.  1918,  one  member  to  hold  office  until  the  first 
Monday  in  March,  A.  D.  1920,  and  the  member  designated  as 


ELECTION   LAWS.  269 

clerk  thereof  to  hold  office  until  the  first  Monday  in  March, 
A.  D.  1922.     Biennially  after  said  first  election,  in  the  month 
of  February,  one  member  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  six 
years  from  the  first  Monday  in  March  following  such  election 
and  until  his  successor  is  chosen  and  qualified,  to  succeed  the 
member  of  said  board  whose  term  will  next  expire.     In  case  vacancy,  how 
any  person  elected  as  a  member  of  said  board  shall  decline  to 
serve,  or  neglect  to  qualify,  or  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  said 
board  for  any  cause,  said  office  or  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the 
city  council  in  joint  convention  for  the  term  of  said  office  or 
unexpired  term.     One  member  of  said  board,  other  than  the  Presiding 
clerk  thereof,  shall  be  elected  by  said  board  as  presiding  officer. 
Said  board  shall  have  an  office  in  said  city,  which  shall  be  open  Registration 
at  all  times  required  by  law,  and  said  board  shall  between  the  SdT^Se  held! 
fifteenth  day  of  May  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  June  in  each 
year  on  such  dates  as  said  board  may  designate,  hold  a  registra- 
tion meeting  in  each  ward  from  7  to  9  o'clock  P.  M.     The  mem-  compensation 

•  •!  (.  *^^  members 

bers  of  said  board  shall  receive  as  compensation  the  sum  oi  two  and  clerk. 
hundred  dollars  per  annum,  each,  with  the  exception  of  the 
clerk,  who  shall  receive  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  per 
annum ;  and  the  citv'  council  of  said  city  shall  annually  appro- 
priate a  sum  sufficient  for  the  payment  of  the  same.  Said  board  ^tSice. "' 
may  hire  all  necessary  clerical  assistance  and  fix  the  compen- 
sation thereof,  subject  to  the  approval  of  said  city  council. 

Sec.  2.     Said  board  shall  furnish  the  registry  books  provided  Board  to  have 

^        ^  ^  charge  of  reg- 

for  by  law,  and  shall  have  charge  of  the  registration  of  all  istration. 
persons  entitled  by  law  to  vote  upon  being  registered.  Every 
person  who  is  or  within  a  year  may  be  qualified  to  vote  upon 
being  registered  in  said  city,  shall  go  to  said  board,  instead  of 
to  the  city  clerk,  and  register  his  name  within  the  same  time, 
in  the  same  manner,  and  with  the  same  effect,  as  heretofore 
provided  by  law  relative  to  registration  with  the  city  clerk  of 
said  city. 
Sec.  3.     Said  board,  in  the  manner  provided  by  law,  shall  Further  duties 

of  the  board. 

prepare,  canvass,  post,  publish,  and  deliver  the  voting  lists  for 


270 


ELKCTIOX    LAWS. 


City  clerk  to 
turn  over  to 
the  board  all 
things  pertain- 
ing to  regis- 
tration, etc. 


Board  to  as- 
sume duties  of 
city  clerk  and 
board  of  alder- 
men pertaining 
to  registration, 
elective  meet- 
ings, etc. 


all  caucus  and  elective  meetings,  provide  a  suitable  polling  pk 
and  furnish  all  the  paraphernalia,  stationery  and  supplies 
required  by  law  to  be  furnished  by  the  city  clerk  for  the 
same,  and  receive  the  returns  required  by  law  to  be  filed 
with  the  city  clerk  and  board  of  aldermen  by  the  officers  of  said 
meetings.  Said  board  shall  warn  and  notify  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  law  all  elective  meetings,  receive  the  nominations 
required  by  law  to  be  filed  with  the  city  clerk,  furnish  the 
ballots  for,  and  count  the  ballots  cast  at,  any  elective  meeting, 
and  required  by  law  to  be  furnished  by  or  filed  with  the  city 
clerk  and  counted  by  the  board  of  aldermen.  Upon  complet- 
ing any  such  count  said  board  shall  declare  the  result  and  the 
clerk  shall  make  a  record  thereof  in  a  book  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose in  manner  provided  by  law,  certifying  to  the  same  over 
his  signature  and  said  clerk  shall  forthwith  issue  a  certificate 
of  election  to  all  persons  declared  elected.  Whenever  it  shall 
appear  from  such  count  that  no  person  has  been  lawfully  elected 
to  any  office  said  board  shall  in  manner  provided  by  law  issue 
a  warrant  for  another  election. 

Sec.  4.  Immediately  after  said  board  of  canvassers  shall  be 
elected  and  qualify,  the  city  clerk  of  said  city  shall  turn  over  to 
said  board,  taking  receipts  therefor,  all  books,  papers,  documents, 
lists,  returns  and  other  things  in  his  possession  pertaining  to 
registration,  canvassing,  and  holding  of  caucus  or  elective 
meetings  and  the  legal  status  or  effect  of  the  same  and  all  things 
theretofore  done  by  said  clerk  or  other  persons  relative  to  such 
matters  shall  in  no  wise  be  impaired  by  such  transfer ;  and  upon 
the  election  and  qualification  of  said  board  the  city  clerk  and 
the  board  of  aldermen  shall  be  relieved  of  all  duties  pertaining 
to  registration,  preparing  and  canvassing  the  voting  lists,  warn- 
ing elective  meetings,  counting  the  ballots  cast  at  the  same  and 
all  matters  in  general  relating  to  caucus  and  elective  meetings, 
and  such  officer,  after  demiand  shall  have  been  made  therefor  by 
said  board,  who  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  turn  over  the  same  shall 
be  fined  twenty  dollars  for  each  and  every  day  or  such  neglect 


ELECTION    LAWS.  ^71 

or  refusal.  After  the  election  and  qualification  of  said  board 
of  canvassers  and  registration,  all  ballots  and  other  material 
now  required  by  law  to  be  furnished  by  any  officer  to  the  city 
clerk,  and  all  ballots,  records,  certificates,  returns,  books,  docu- 
ments and  papers  of  every  kind  and  nature  pertaining  in  any 
manner  to  any  caucus  or  elective  meeting  and  now  required  to  be 
returned  by  any  officer  to,  or  filed  with,  the  city  clerk  or  board 
of  aldermen  shall  be  furnished  to  and  returned  to  or  filed  by 
such  officers  with  said  board  of  canvassers  and  registration 
within  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  now  required 
by  law  to  be  furnished  to  and  returned  to  or  filed  by  said  officers 
with  the  city  clerk  or  the  board  of  aldermen  and  Under  the  same 
penalties  as  now  provided  by  law;  and  said  board  of  canvassers 
and  registration  shall  perform  any  and  all  acts  pertaining  to  the 
registration  of  voters,  canvassing  the  voting  lists,  furnishing 
certificates  and  returns  and  all  other  matters  and  things  rela- 
tive to  caucus  and  elective  meeting  now  required  by  law  to  be  same  subject. 
performed  by  the  ci1;y  clerk  and  the  board  of  aldermen,  includ- 
ing the  appointment  of  supervisors  as  provided  in  Section  35, 
Chapter  11  of  the  General  Laws,  and  the  acts  in  amendment 
thereof  and  addition  thereto,  and  the  legal  status  or  effect  shall 
be  the  same  as  though  such  acts  were  performed  by  said  clerk 
or  board  of  aldermen.  Said  board  shall  individually  be  liable 
to  the  same  fines,  penalties  and  forfeitures  provided  by  law  as 
said  city  clerk  and  board  of  aldermen  relative  to  all  such 
matters. 

Sec  5.     Said  board,  in  the  month  of  July  in  any  year,  as  Board  may  re- 

divide  WRrds 

occasion  may  require,  may  re-divide  any  or  all  of  the  wards  of  into  vating 
said  city  into  as  many  voting  districts  as  may  be  deemed  by 
said  board  necessary  for  the  greater  convenience  of  the  qualified 
electors  in  such  wards,  and  upon  any  such  re-division  said  board 
shall  give  public  notice  thereof  by  publishing  in  some  news- 
paper published  in  the  county  of  Providence,  the  lines  of  any 
voting  district  affected  by  such  change,  and  shall  post  for  a 
period  of  sixty  days  a  map  in  the  office  of  said  board,  showing 


272 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


City  commit- 
tees to  file  list 
of  caucus  ward- 
ens and  clerks. 


Board    to    cer- 
tify number  of 
signatures  on 
nomination 
papers. 


Board  may 
request  chief  of 
police  to   cause 
a  census  to  be 
made  of  the 
qualified  elec- 
tors. 


Board  may  ad- 
minister oaths, 
summon  wit- 
nesses,  etc. 


said  district  lines,  and  said  board  shall  at  all  times  keep  on  file 
in  said  office  a  map  showing  the  ward  and  district  lines  of  said 
city. 

Sec.  6.  The  city  committee  of  any  political  party  in  said 
city  shall  file  with  said  board  at  least  one  day  previous  to  the 
date  selected  by  its  party  for  holding  any  caucus  the  names 
of  the  persons  selected  by  said  committee  to  serve  as  wardens 
and  clerks  of  such  caucus,  who  shall  be  qualified  electors  of  the 
representative  district  or  ward  in  which  they  are  appointed  to 
serve,  and  members  of  such  political  party. 

Sec.  7.  All  nomination  papers  required  by  law  to  be  filed 
with  the  secretary  of  state  shall  be  submitted  to  said  board  of 
canvassers  and  registration  at  least  two  days  before  the  last  day 
for  filing,  and  the  clerk  of  said  board  shall  forthwith  certify 
thereon  the  number  of  signatures  of  persons  qualified  to  make 
such  nomination:  Provided,  however,  that  when  such  lists 
shall  be  submitted  to  said  board,  or  Avhenever  any  nomination 
papers  shall  be  filed  with  said  board  on  any  date  on  which  a 
caucus  of  any  political  party  is  to  be  held,  said  clerk  shall  not 
certify  such  nominations  until  after  said  caucus  shall  have  been 
held. 

Sec  8.  Upon  the  request  in  writing  of  said  board,  the  chief 
of  police  shall  cause  a  census  to  be  made  of  the  qualified  electors 
in  each  voting  district  of  said  city,  specifying  the  street  and 
Qumber  of  each  such  elector's  residence  and  shall  forthwith 
furnish  such  origainal  census  or  a  certified  copy  thereof  to  said 
board.  Said  chief  of  police  shall  furnish  to  said  board,  upon 
request  in  writing,  such  information  as  said  board  may  require 
concerning  the  residence  and  right  to  vote  of  any  person  whose 
name  appears  upon  the  registry  book  of  said  city  or  upon  any 
voting  list  thereof. 

Sec.  9.  The  members  of  said  board  are  hereby  severally 
authorized  to  administer  oaths,  and  said  board,  in  all  cases  of 
every  nature  pending  before  it,  is  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered  to  summon  witnesses  by  subpoena  signed  by  the  clerk 


ELECTION    LAWS.  273 

of  said  board,  and  to  compel  such  witnesses  to  attend,  and 
testify  in  the  same  manner  as  witnesses  are  compelled  to  appear 
and  testify  in  any  court  of  record,  and  said  board  is  authorized 
to  compel  the  production  of  all  papers,  books,  documents, 
records,  certificates,  or  other  legal  evidence  that  may  be  neces- 
sary or  proper  for  the  determination  and  decision  of  any  ques- 
tion or  the  discharge  of  any  duty  required  by  law  of  said  board, 
by  issuing  a  subpoena  duces  tecum,  signed  by  its  clerk;  and 
every  person  disobeying  any  such  writ  may  be  adjudged  as  in 
contempt,  and  said  board  may  punish  any  contempt  of  its 
authority  in  like  manner  as  contempt  may  be  punished  by  any 
court  of  record,  ^o  evidence  elicited  in  such  examination 
shall  be  used  against  the  person  so  examined  in  any  criminal 
prosecution  against  him,  except  a  prosecution  for  perjury  in 
such  examination.  Any  person  who  shall  willfully  swear  falsely 
in  any  proceeding,  matter  or  hearing  before  said  board,  shall 
be  deemed  guilty  of  the  crime  of  perjury. 

Sec.  10.  Said  board  shall  have  a  seal  and  shall  cause  the 
same  to  be  affixed  to  all  certificates  and  documents  issued  by  it. 

Sec.   11.     x\ny  member  of  said  board  who  shall  knowingly  Penalty  for 

c  ^  •     -\    ^^^^  count, 

make  anv  false  count,  return,  record  or  certificate  of  any  kind  return,  record, 

'  ^  -^  etc.,    by   a 

relative  to  the  count  of  said  ballots,  or  the  determination  of  the  member  of  the 

'  board. 

result  of  any  such  election,  or  the  voting  upon  any  proposition, 
shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars, 
or  to  imprisonment  not  exceeding  five  years  or  to  both  such  fine 
and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  12.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith 
are  hereby  repealed,  and  this  act  shall^  take  effect  from  and  after 
its  passage. 


18 


274 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


CHAPTEE  1442. 


ApiHx>red 
AprU  16,  191fi 


AN    ACT    IN    RELATION    TO    THE    HOLDING    OF    CAUCUSES    IN    THE 
TOWN  OF  SOUTH  KINGSTOWN. 


Political  ©art* 
defined. 


Town  com- 
mittee, how 
elected,  etc. 


Powers   and 
duties  of. 


Vacancy,    how 
filled. 


Town  commit- 
tees, term  of 
office  of. 


Bhirther   powers 
and  duties  of 
committees. 


It  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  folloivs: 

Section  1.  In  the  town  of  South  Kingstown  the  caucuses  of 
all  political  parties  shall  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  and  such  provisions  shall  apply  only  in  said 
town.  For  the  purpose  of  this  act,  a  political  party  is  hereby 
defined  to  be  one  which  at  the  next  preceding  election  of  state 
officers  cast  for  its  candidate  for  governor  at  least  two  per  cent, 
of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  state  for  that  officer.  Caucus  and 
convention  nominations  shall  be  made  only  by  political  parties. 

Sec.  2.  The  qualified  electors  of  each  political  party  in  said 
town  shall  biennially,  at  the  caucus  .held  to  elect  delegates  to 
the  convention  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  governor,  elect  a 
town  committee  for  such  town.  Each  town  committee  shall, 
with  ten  days  after  its  organization,  file  with  the  secretary  of 
state  a  list  of  its  officers  and  members.  The  general  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  each  political  party  in  such  town  shall 
be  vested  in  its  town  committee,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions which  the  state  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  make. 
Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  the  offices  or  in  the  membership 
of  said  town  committee  shall  be  filled  by  such  committee.  A 
statement  thereof  shall  be  filed  as  in  the  case  of  officers  and 
members  first  chosen.  Town  committees  shall  hold  office  from 
the  date  of  their  election  until  the  next  biennial  election  of 
such  committees  and  thereafter  until  their  successors  have 
organized.  Town  committees  may  make  regulations,  not  incon- 
sistent with  law,  to  determine  membership  in  the  party  and  to 
restrain  those  not  entitled  to  vote  at  caucuses  called  by  them 
from  taking  part  therein,  and  such  regulations  shall  be  fur- 
nished to  and  shall  govern  the  officers  by  this  act  charged  with 


ELECTION   LAWS.  275 

the  duty  of  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  in  the  preparation  of 
such  lists,  so  far  as  they  are  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter.  Each  town  committee  shall  attend  the  caucuses 
of  the  party  to  which  it  belongs,  to  perform  the  duties  herein 
imposed  upon  it. 

Sec.  3.     All  caucuses  shall  be  held  in  said  town  at  the  call  caucuses,  hovr 

called 

of  the  town  committee  of  the  political  party  holding  such  cau- 
cuses. The  call  for  such  caucuses  shall  be  issued  not  less  than 
five  days  prior  to  the  day  on  which  they  are  to  be  held.  It 
shall  state  the  places  where  such  caucuses  are  to  be  held,  the  hour 
of  holding  the  same,  the  time  during  which  the  polls  are  to  be 
open,  the  business  to  be  transacted  thereat  (and  the  uniform 
size  of  the  ballot  to  be  used  in  said  caucus),  and  said  call  shall  be 
posted,  at  least  four  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  said  caucus, 
in  six  or  more  public  places  in  said  town.  N"o  two  political 
parties  shall  hold  their  caucuses  on  the  same  day. 

Sec.  4.     At  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  date  on  which  a  Town  clerk  to 
political  party  desires  to  hold  its  caucuses  in  said  town  the  chair-  date  of  caucus 

«    1  .  p  4 .  *^*^  to  fumiah 

man  of  the  town  committee  of  such  political  party  shall  notify,  in  polling  piacea 
writing,  the  town  clerk  of  the  date  selected  for  such  caucuses, 
and  the  political  party  first  making  such  selection  and  notifi- 
cation for  a  certain  date  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  its  caucuses 
on  that  date,  if  such  date  is  one  on  which  caucuses  may  be  law- 
fully held.  If  such  date  is  one  previously  so  selected  and 
notified  by  some  other  political  party,  or  is  one  on  which  cau- 
cuses may  not  be  lawfully  held,  such  chairman  shall  be  imme- 
diately notified,  in  writing,  of  the  fact  by  the  town  clerk,  and 
such  chairman  shall  select  and  make  notification  of  another 
date.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  town  clerk,  in  and  at  the 
expense  of  said  town  of  South  EJingstown,  to  provide  a  polling 
place  in  said  town  for  said  caucus,  and  to  notify  in  writing 
such  chairman  as  to  the  place  so  provided,  at  least  seven  days 
prior  to  the  date  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec  5.     ISTo  caucus,  except  a  caucus  adjourned  under  the  pro-  caucuses,  when 
visions  of  Section  14  of  this  act,  shall  be  held  within  two  days. 


276 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


CaucruB  oflacere 
to  be  selected 
by  town  com- 
mittee. 


Terms  of  office 
of  caucus  offi- 
cers, etc. 


Duties  of  cau- 
cuB  officers. 


exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificate  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucus,  nor 
shall  any  political  party  hold  caucuses  on  successive  days.  All 
caucuses  held  to  elect  delegates  to  the  convention  to  nominate 
a  candidate  for  governor  and  to  nominate  candidates  for  the 
general  assembly  from  said  town,  excepting  those  caucuses  neces- 
sary for  a  special  election,  shall  be  held  after  the  second 
Thursday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  September,  biennially. 
All  caucuses  held  to  nominate  candidates  for  town  officers  in 
said  town  excepting  those  caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  elec- 
tion, shall  be  held  within  twenty-five  days  of  the  first  Tuesday 
in  June  in  each  year.  Caucuses  necessary  for  a  special  election 
shall  be  held  not  more  than  ten  days  before,  nor  within  two  days, 
exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  of  the  last  day  for 
filing  the  certificates  of  the  nominations  of  such  caucuses. 

Sec.  6.  The  town  committee  of  each  political  party  in  said 
town  shall,  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the  caucus, 
appoint  a  caucus  chairman  and  a  caucus  clerk  and  assistant 
caucus  clerks,  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  said  town,  who 
shall  be  qualified  electors  of  said  town,  and  members  of  such 
political  party,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  which  occur  in  such 
offices  from  any  cause,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  Caucus 
chairman  and  caucus  clerks  so  appointed  shall  hold  office  until 
the  first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  appointment  and 
thereafter  until  their  successors  are  appointed,  and  shall  have 
the  same  powers  and  duties  in  the  conduct  of  caucuses  as  are 
conferred  by  law  upon  wardens  and  ward  clerks  of  elective 
meetings. 

Sec.  7.  The  caucus  chairman  appointed,  as  hereinbefore 
provided,  shall  call  the  caucus  of  his  political  party  to  order,  and 
shall  preside  thereat,  and  the  caucus  clerk  and  assistant  caucus 
clerks  shall  check  the  voting  list.  In  case  a  caucus  chairman  is 
absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  been  called,  or  in 
case  a  caucus  chairman  becomes  incapacitated  during  the  hold- 
ing of  the  caucus,  the  town  committee,  or  a  majority  of  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  277 

members  thereof  present  at  such  caucus,  shall  appoint  a  quali- 
fied elector  of  such  party  residing  in  said  town  as  caucus  chair- 
man for  such  caucus.  If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is 
present,  the  clerk  of  such  caucus,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence  or 
incapacity,  then  any  qualified  elector  of  such  political  party  shall 
call  the  meeting  to  order,  and  the  electors  present  shall  elect 
some  qualified  person  as  caucus  chairman  of  such  caucus.  In 
ease  a  caucus  clerk  is  absent  at  the  time  at  which  the  caucus  has  ProceedingB  in 

case  of  absence, 

been  called,  or  in  case  a  caucus  clerk  becomes  incapacitated  from  etc.,  of  caucus 

'  ^  chairman  or 

performing  his  duties  as  such  during  the  holding  of  the  caucus,  ^^^^^' 
the  town  committee  of  said  town,  or  such  majority  thereof,  shall 
appoint  some  qualified  elector  of  the  town  as  such  caucus  clerk. 
If  no  member  of  the  town  committee  is  present,  the  caucus 
chairman  shall  appoint  some  qualified  elector  as  aforesaid  as 
caucus  clerk.  All  caucuses  shall  be  called  to  order  at  seven-  JJ^Sch  pSb^ 
thirty  o'clock  P.  M.  All  nominations  of  candidates  for  office  JJJSi.  '"®™*^^ 
shall  be  made  before  the  opening  of  the  polls,  and  no  ballot  shall 
be  counted  for  any  candidate  for  office  not  so  nominated.  The 
polls  shall  be  opened  at  eight  P.  M.,  and  the  ballot  boxes  shall 
be  opened  and  the  interior  thereof  exposed  to  the  view  of  all 
present  by  the  chairman  before  any  ballots  are  cast.  Any  neces- 
sary business  not  finished  at  eight  P.  M.  shall  be  postponed  until 
after  the  polls  are  closed  and  the  result  of  the  balloting  an- 
nounced. The  polls  shall  be  kept  open  until  ten  P.  M.,  and 
no  longer:  Provided,  however,  that  in  the  event  of  but  one 
nomination  for  each  political  office  the  polls  shall  be  kept  open 
thirty  minutes.  Except  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office 
of  caucus  chairman  and  caucus  clerk,  as  hereinbefore  provided 
in  this  section,  a  ballot  shall  be  required  for  the  choice  of  all 
candidates  for  elective  offices,  for  delegates  to  conventions,  and 

for  members  of  town  committees  to  be  elected  by  such  caucuses.  Form  of  cau- 
cus ballot. 
All  ballots  shall  be  printed  or  written  on  white  paper  of  uniform 

size  to  be  determined  by  the  town  committee  of  each  political 

party  in  said  town,  and  no  tissue  paper  shall  be  used  for  any 


278 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Who  may  not, 
participate  in 
caucus. 


Town  clerk  to 
prepare  voting: 
lists. 


Board  of   can- 
vassers to 
canvass   and 
correct  voting 
lists. 


Notice. 


Caucus    voting 
lists,  how 
prepared. 


caucus  ballots.    The  names  of  all  candidates  for  which  any  elector 
shall  vote  at  any  caucus  shall  be  written  or  printed  upon  one  ballot. 

Sec.  8.  Xo  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  take  part  in 
the  caucus  of  any  political  party  who  within  fourteen  calendar 
months  has  voted  or  taken  part  in  the  caucus  of  any  other  polit- 
ical party,  or  has  signed  nomination  papers  of  a  candidate  or 
candidates  for  any  elective  officer,  or  has  voted  in  any  election 
for  the  candidates  of  any  other  political  party  or  for  candidates 
placed  in  nomination  by  nomination  papers,  or  is  debarred  from 
so  voting  or  taking  part  by  the  regulations  of  such  party  pro- 
vided for  in  Section  2  of  this  act.  No  person  who  has  voted 
in 'the  caucus  of  any  political  party  shall  be  eligible  to  sign  any 
nomination  paper  containing  nominations  of  candidates  within 
fourteen  calendar  months  thereafter. 

Sec.  9.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  prepare  the  voting 
lists  for  use  at  all  caucuses  held  in  said  town.  At  all  caucuses 
the  voting  lists  as  last  published  or  canvassed  according  to  law 
by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town  shall  be  used,  corrected 
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  town 
shall  hold  a  canvass  meeting  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  preced- 
ing the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in 
each  year  in  which  an  election  of  state  officers  is  held  and  on 
the  twenty-seventh  day  preceding  the  first  Tuesday  in  June  in 
each  year,  and  also  on  a  day  not  more  than  five  days  prior  to 
the  earliest  day  lawfully  selected  by  any  political  party  for  the 
holding  of  caucuses  made  necessary  by  a  special  election  in  such 
town,  to  canvass  and  correct  the  voting  lists  of  electors  quali- 
fied. Notice  of  said  canvass  meetings  shall  be  given  in  such 
manner  as  such  board  of  canvassers  shall  respectively  prescribe. 

Sec.  10.  In  preparing  caucus  voting  lists  for  the  caucuses 
of  any  political  party  there  shall  be  stricken  from  the  lists  speci- 
fied in  Section  9  of  this  act  the  names  of  all  persons  shown  by 
the  nomination  papers  or  copies  thereof,  and  used  caucus  voting 
lists  in  the  possession  of  the  town  clerk,  to  be  debarred  from 
voting  in  such  caucuses  by  the  provisions  of  Section  8  of  this 


ELECTION   LAWS.  279 

act,  or  who  are  shown  by  the  regulations  of  such  political  party 
to  be  not  entitled  to  vote  in  its  caucuses.  Each  such  list  shall 
be  endorsed  with  the  names  of  such  political  party,  and  shall  be 
certified  by  such  town  clerk. 

Sec.  11.     The  town  clerk  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  Town  clerk  to 

•^  ^  furnish  ballot 

to  furnish,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  suitable  ballot-boxes,  J^^^iS*^ 
blank  forms  of  certificates  and  returns,  and  other  election  sta- 
tionery, for  each  polling  place  at  which  any  caucus  is  held,  and 
to  cause  the  voting  lists  prepared  as  aforesaid  to  be  delivered 
at  each  such  polling  place  to  the  caucus  chairman,  prior  to  the 
.hour  of  seven-thirty  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which 
any  such  caucus  is  to  be  held;  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty 
of  the  chief  of  police  of  said  town  to  detail  such  number  of 
police  officers  to  each  such  polling  place,  for  the  preservation 
of  order,  and  to  deliver  the  voting  lists  aforesaid,  as  may  be  re- 
quested by  said  town  clerk. 

Sec.  12.     The  caucus  chairman  shall  receive  the  ballots  of  all  caucus  chair- 

inan  to  receiTft 

persons  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists  certified  and  furnished  ballots, 
to  him,  and  shall  reject  the  ballots  of  all  other  persons. 

Sec.  13.     Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  polls  the  caucus  Vote,  how 

-^         ■  or  counted;  plte- 

chairman  and  clerk  shall  in  open  caucus  proceed  to  count  the  rawty  to  elect 

ballots  cast  in  the  presence  of  such  representatives  as  may  be 

appointed  in  writing,  one  by  each  candidate  voted  for  at  said 

caucus;  and  each  candidate  receiving  a  plurality  of  the  ballots 

cast  for  the  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate  shall  be  declared 

by  the  caucus  chairman  to  be  elected  or  nominated,  as  the  case 

may  be.     The  ballots  and  voting  lists  shall  then  be  forthwith  R«ta™  of  W- 

•^  °  lots,  votinjf 

separately  sealed  up,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  result  of  ^^^'  **^- 
the  balloting,  substantially  in  form  required  by  law  in  the  case 
of  elective  meetings,  and  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  in  person 
by  the  caucus  clerk  to  the  town  clerk  in  said  town. 

Sec.  14.     In  case  at  any  caucus  a  majority  of  a  delegation  ^te?Sc^fwhat 
to  any  convention,  or  of  any  town  committee,  are  not  elected,  or  *    ^^^  *<>  be 
in  case  of  a  tie  vote  for  any  candidate  for  an  elective  office,  the 
caucus  shall  adjourn  to  such  day  as  shall  be  designated  at  said 


280 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Delegates  to 
convention  to 
fill  vacancies, 
when. 


Chairman  of 
caucus  to  pre- 
pare certificates 
of  nomination 
and  election, 
when. 


Verification  of 
check  liBt  bv 
caucus  clerk. 


Provisions 
recoxint  of 
ballots. 


caucus  by  the  caucus  chairman,  but  not  to  any  day  at  which  a 
'caucus  of  any  political  party  has  been  called.  In  case  of  a  tie 
vote  for  a  smaller  number  then  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  a 
convention,  or  of  the  members  of  a  town  committee,  the  elected 
members  of  the  delegation  or  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the  va- 
cancies so  caused  and  make  notification  of  their  action  to  the 
person  or  officer  entitled  to  receive  the  same.  In  all  cases  the 
delegates  to  a  convention  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number  appearing  at  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  such  con- 
vention. 

Sec.  15.  The  chairman  of  every  caucus  shall,  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  said  caucus  is  held,  deliver  or  send  to  each 
delegate  to  a  political  convention,  and  to  each  member  of  a 
political  committee,  a  certificate  of  his  election,  and  to  each  can- 
didate for  an  elective  office  a  certificate  of  his  nomination,  and 
shall  also  cause  the  certificate  of  nomination  required  by  law  in 
the  case  of  all  candidates  who  are  nominated  by  such  caucus  for 
any  elective  office  to  be  prepared  and  seasonably  filed  in  the 
proper  public  office,  unless  proceedings  for  a  recount  of  the  bal- 
lots cast  at  such  caucus  are  inaugurated  conformably  to  the  pro- 
visions of  Section  16  of  this  act,  in  which  case  he  shall  not  de- 
liver, send,  or  cause  to  be  filed  any  such  certificates.  Upon  each 
check  list  used  at  such  caucus  the  clerk  and  assistant  caucus 
clerks  checking  such  list  shall  make  a  return  under  oath  that 
the  said  check  list  is  the  identical  one  used  in  the  caucus  of  the 
political  party  for  which  it  was  furnished,  and  that  the  names 
checked  were  truly  and  properly  checked  at  such  caucus,  and 
that  no  alteration  or  erasure  or  additional  check  has  been  made 
thereon. 

Sec.  16.  If  before  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
succeeding  the  day  on  which  any  caucus  is  held  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  a  person  who  has  received  votes  thereat  for 
nomination  or  election  to  any  elective  office,  delegation,  or  polit- 
ical committee  shall  serve  upon  the  town  clerk  of  said  town  a 
statement  in  writing  that  the  records  and  returns  made  by  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  281 

caucus  officers,  as  aforesaid,  are  erroneous,  and  specifying  where- 
in the  same  are  erroneous,  and  claiming  an  election  or  nomina- 
tion by  said  caucus  for  the  petitioner,  and  petitioning  for  a  re- 
count of  such  ballots  by  the  board  of  canvassers  of  said  town, 
such  town  clerk  shall  retain  all  the  ballots  cast  at  such  caucus 
until  such  claim  is  withdrawn  or  the  contest  for  the  nomination 
or  election  is  fully  determined,  as  hereinafter  provided.     The  ^^^^^^^  <>*  re- 

•^  ^  ^  count. 

town  clerk  upon  whom  such  statement  is  served  shall  forthwith 
notify  the  members  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  his  town  of  the 
filing  of  such  petition,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  of 
canvassers  to  forthwith  convene,  and  to  cause  notice  in  writing 
to  be  served,  in  such  manner  as  said  board  of  canvassers  shall 
direct,  upon  all  other  candidates  for  the  same  office  receiving 
votes  at  said  caucus,  at  the  expense  of  the  petitioner,  of  the  fil- 
ing of  such  petitions  for  a  recount,  and  shall  appoint  a  time 
and  place  for  the  recount  of  said  ballots  within  twenty-four 
hours,  exclusive  of  Sundays  and  legal  holidays,  from  the  time  of 
ordering  such  notice.  At  the  time  specified  by  said  board  of  ^t^t^tnd'heS-- 
canvassers  said  town  clerk  shall  transmit  to  such  board  all  the  J^ff  thereon, 
ballots  cast  at  such  caucus  and  the  voting  list  used  thereat,  and 
at  the  appointed  time  and  place  said  board  of  canvassers  shall 
proceed  to  recount  said  ballots  and  to  hear  and  determine  all 
questions  raised  for  or  against  the  counting  of  the  same  or  of 
any  thereof,  and  shall  declare,  as  the  result  of  such  recount 
and  determination,  what  persons,  if  any,  were  lawfully  elected 
or  nominated  at  such  caucus.     Such  declaration  shall  stand  as  Recount  to  be 

"^  conclusive  and 

the  true  record  and  result  of  the  vote  cast  at  such  caucus,  and  o^ciai  ballots 

'  to  be  prepared 

the  proper  officer  shall  cause  the  names  of  the  persons  so  de-  accordingly, 
clared  to  be  nominated  for  any  elective  office  to  be  printed  upon 
the  official  ballots,  in  accordance  with  a  certificate  of  such  re- 
count and  determination  made  and  filed  with  him  by  said  board, 
which  certificate  shall  be  deemed  to  be  made  and  filed  as  of  the 
day  of  holding  such  caucus.  Said  board  shall  also  furnish  to 
each  delegate  and  member  of  a  committee,  so  declared  to  be 
elected,  a  certificate  of  his  election.     Any  candidate  receiving 


282 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Candidate  or 
his  representa- 
tive may  be 
pre8«it   at   re- 
count. 


Town  clerk  to 
retain  under 
seal  for  14 
months  all 
used  voting 
lists. 

Lists  may  be 
unsealed,   when. 


Penalties. 


votes  at  such  caucus  for  such  nomination  or  office  may  be  present 
during  such  recount,  either  in  person  or  by  an  agent  duly  ap- 
pointed in  writing. 

Sec.  17.  The  town  clerk  of  said  town  shall  retain  under  seal 
for  the  period  of  fourteen  calendar  months  all  of  the  voting  lists 
returned  to  him  under  the  provisions  of  this  act:  Provided, 
that  such  lists  may  be  unsealed  for  use  in  the  proceedings  pro- 
vided for  in  Sections  10  and  16  of  this  act,  after  which  they 
shall  be  immediately  resealed,  and  that  the  said  town  clerk,  after 
a  check  list  has  been  used  at  a  caucus  of  a  political  party  held 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  written  application  for  a 
copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  signed  by  any  qualified  elector  in  the 
said  town  where  such  list  was  used,  and  upon  payment  or  tender 
of  the  fees  provided  by  law  therefor,  may  unseal  and  open  the 
wrapper  containing  such  check  list,  and  shall  furnish  to  such 
applicant  a  certified  copy  of  the  list  as  checked,  and  shall  then 
reseal  the  same. 

Sec.  18.  Every  public  officer  or  officer  of  a  political  party 
who  shall  willfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or 
shall  refuse,  or  willfully  neglect  and  omit,  to  perform,  in  the 
manner  and  within  the  time  prescribed,  any  duty  imposed  upon 
him  by  this  act,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifteen,  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  jail  for  a  period  not  ex- 
ceeding thirty  days,  or  both.  Every  person  at  a  caucus  who, 
knowing  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  vote,  votes  or  attempts  to  vote, 
or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  upon  any  other  name  than  his  own, 
or  votes  or  attempts  to  vote  more  than  once  upon  his  own  name, 
or  deposits  or  attempts  to  deposit  more  than  one  ballot  for  any 
candidate  for  any  elective  office  or  delegate  to  any  convention  or 
member  of  any  political  committee  at  the  same  balloting,  or  at 
any  caucus  gives  a  false  answer  to  any  caucus  clerk  or  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  any  caucus  relative  to  his  right  to  vote  at  such 
caucus,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding 
thirty  days.  Whoever  aids  or  abets  a  person  so  entitled  to  vote 
at  a  caucus  in  voting  or  attempting  to  vote  under  a  name  other 


ELECTION  LAWS.  283 

i 

than  the  voter's  own  name,  or  in  voting  twice  upon  the  voter's 
own  name,  or  aids  or  abets  a  person  in  depositing  or  attempting 
to  deposit  at  a  caucus  more  than  one  ballot  as  aforesaid  at  the 
same  balloting,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not 
exceeding  thirty  days.  Whoever  willfully  alters,  or  willfully 
makes  any  change,  erasure,  or  additional  check  upon  the  voting 
list  used  or  to  be  used  at  a  caucus,  or,  having  custody  or  control 
of  such  voting  list,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  alteration,  change, 
erasure,  or  additional  check  to  be  made  upon  such  voting  list, 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  jail  not  exceeding  sixty 
days.  Excepting  otherwise  herein  provided,  the  penalties  im- 
posed by  law  upon  election,  and  other  officers  and  voters  who 
violate  the  provisions  of  acts  regulating  elective  meetings  are 
hereby  imposed  upon  the  same  and  like  caucus  and  other  officers 
and  voters  for  the  same  and  like  violations  of  this  act. 

Sec.  19.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  police  or  other  peace  Arrest  without 
officer  or  constable  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  de- 
tected in  the  act  of  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  20.     The  secretary  of  state  shall  make  and  send  to  the  secretary  of 
town  clerk  of  said  town  copies  of  all  nomination  papers  filed  ?optes^o/"™5? 
with  him  which  contain  the  names  of  electors  of  such  town.         tfon  pap^ra.*" 

Sec.  21.     The  town  committees   elect  in  said  town  at  the  present  town 
time  of  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  organize  and  serve  in  the  SS^iTofflS.* 
same  manner  and  with  the  same  effect  as  if  they  had  been  elected 
under  its  provisions. 

Sec.  22.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


284 


ELECT lOX    LAWS. 


CHAPTER  1610. 

Approved  ,^j^  ACT   PROVIDING   FOR  THE   REGISTRATION   OF    CITIZENS   ABSENT 

Feb.    20,    1918. 

FROM   THE   STATE    IN    THE   ACTUAL   MILITARY   SERVICE    OF   THE 

UNITED  STATES  AND  THE  PREPARING  AND  CANVASSING  OF  LISTS 

OF  SUCH   CITIZENS  AS   MAY  BE   QUALIFIED  TO   VOTE. 


Purpose  of 
this  act. 


Term  "  Absent 
Citizen,"  how 
construed. 


Term  "  Boards 
of  Canvas- 
sers," how- 
construed. 


Place  of  resi- 
dence for 
voting  qualifi- 
cation. 


Secretary  of 
state  to  pre- 
pare and  keep 
a  general 
register. 


Form  of  such 
register. 


Record  on  gen- 
eral register, 
what  to  show. 


It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  purpose  of  this  act  is  to  carry  into  effect  the 
intent  of  Article  IV  of  amendments  to  the  constitution  of  the 
state.  The  term  "  Absent  citizen  "  wherever  used  herein  shall 
be  construed  to  mean  a  citizen  of  the  state  absent  therefrom  in 
the  actual  military  service  of  the  United  States^  in  the  army  or 
navy  thereof.  The  term  "  boards  of  canvassers  "  wherever  used 
herein  shall  be  construed  to  include  boards  of  canvassers  and 
registration  in  cities  and  towns  having  such  boards.  The  place 
of  residence  of  an  absent  citizen  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  for 
military  service  shall  continue  to  be  his  place  of  residence  for 
the  purpose  of  his  voting  qualification  under  this  act,  unless  he 
«hall  claim  otherwise  under  his  signataure. 

Sec.  2.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  prepare  and  keep  a  gen- 
eral register  of  all  absent  citizens  who  if  they  had  remained  in 
the  state  and  were  otherwise  qualified  by  law  would  be  entitled 
to  vote  at  any  election  held  under  the  provisions  of  Article  XI 
of  amendments  to  the  constitution  of  the  state.  Such  register 
shall  be  in  the  form  of  a  card  index  with  a  card  for  each  such 
absent  citizen,  and  such  cards  shall  be  arranged  alphabetically 
and  grouped  according  to  the  city,  town  and  voting  district  of 
which  such  absent  citizen  was  a  resident  at  the  time  of  leaving 
for  military  service.  The  record  on  the  general  register  shall 
show  for  each  absent  citizen,  as  near  as  may  be,  liis  name,  the 
city  or  town,  representative  and  voting  district  in  which  he  re- 
sides in  this  state,  and  the  street  and  number  of  his  residence, 
if  any;  also  the  name  or  number  or  other  designation  of  the 


ELECTION   LAWS.  285 

regiment,  company,  troop,  vessel,  or  other  command  to  which 
such  absent  citizen  is  attached  or  assigned.  It  shall  also  con- 
tain the  location  of  such  command,  as  the  secretary  may  be  able 
to  ascertain  it  from  time  to  time,  unless  there  are  military  rea- 
sons for  not  recording  such  information. 

Sec.  3.     For  the  purpose  of  preparing  and  keeping  said  gen-  information 
eral  register  the  secretary  of  state  is  authorized  and  empowered  register,  how 

1  J     •         1  -a  I,  obtained. 

to  obtain  the  necessary  mformation  from  the  appropriate  mili- 
tary and  naval  authorities,  or  from  such  other  sources  as  he  may 
deem  most  convenient  and  expedient,  and  to  issue  such  forms 
of  inquiry  as  he  may  deem  essential  therefor,  and  it  is  hereby 
made  the  duty  of  every  person  subject  to  the  authority  of  the 
state  to  furnish  to  the  secretary  of  state  such  information  in 
relation  to  said  absent  citizens  as  the  secretary  of  state  may  deem 
necessary  to  enable  him  to  prepare  and  keep  the  general  register. 
Any  such  person  who  shall  refuse  to  furnish  such  information  Penalty  for 

to  the  secretary  of  state  as  he  may  request  under  the  authority  give  informa- 
tion; or  false 
of  this  section,  or  who  shall  furnish  the  secretary  of  state  with  information. 

false  information  in  relation  to  any  such  absent  citizen  shall  be 
punished  by  imprisonment  for  not  more  than  one  year  or  by  a 
fine  of  not  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  both  such  fine 
and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  4,     The  boards  of  canvassers  of  the  several  cities  and  List  of  "ab- 

to\\Tis  shall  cause  to  be  prepared  and  furnished  to  the  secretary  to  be  fur- 
nished by 
of  state  not  later  than  the  fifteenth  day  of  March,  1918,  a  list  "board  of 

canvassers  "    tO' 

of  absent  citizens  who  are  residents  of  their  respective  cities  and  ^l^^  secretary 

^  of  state, 

towns  and  who  at  the  time  of  their  leaving  for  military  service 
on  or  after  April  6,  1917,  would  have  been  qualified  to  vote  at 
an  election  held  under  the  provisions  of  Article  XI  of  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  of  the  state,  or  who  have  become  so 
qualified  since  leaving  and  such  list  shall  show  the  voting  dis- 
trict, if  any,  as  well  as  the  city  or  town  in  which  such  absent 
citizens  are  residents. 

Sec.  5.     Upon  the  receipt  of  the  lists  provided  for  by  the 
preceding  section,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  forward  to  each 


286 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Secretary  of 
state  to  for- 
ward to  cer- 
tain "  absent 
citizens  "  blank 
form  of  appli- 
cation for  regis- 
tration; to 
make  a  record 
of  returned 
registration 
form;  and  to 
forward   to 
'*  board  of 
canvassers." 


In  case  of 
/failure  to  re- 
ceive blank 
form  of  appli- 
cation by 
"  absent  citi- 
zen,"   he  may 
take  what 
uction. 


What  "absent 
citizens"  to 
become  quali- 
fied to  vote 
for  duration 
of  war,  and 
six  months 
thereafter. 


absent  citizen  whose  name  is  on  the  general  register  but  is  not 
on  any  such  lists,  a  blank  form  of  application  for  registration, 
to  be  filled  out,  signed  and  witnessed  on  or  before  June  30,  1918, 
and  returned  so  that  it  may  be  received  by  the  secretary  of  state 
on  or  before  August  1,  1918.  Upon  the  receipt  of  an  applica- 
tion form  returned  as  aforesaid,  and  properly  filled  out,  signed 
and  witnessed,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  make  a  record  of  the 
same  on  the  appropriate  card  in  the  general  register,  and  shall 
forthwith  forward  such  application  form  to  the  board  of  can- 
vassers of  the  city  or  town  of  which  the  applicant  is  a  resident, 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  board  to  cause  the  name  of  such 
applicant  to  be  registered  upon  the  registry  book,  and  to  place 
such  name  upon  the  voting  list  of  the  town  or  voting  district  of 
which  such  absent  citizen  is  a  resident,  provided  that  the  name 
of  an  absent  citizen  shall  not  be  placed  on  the  voting  list  as  here- 
in provdied  unless  he  would  have  been  qualified  to  vote  if  he  had 
been  present  in  person  to  register.  Any  absent  citizen  who  fails 
to  receive  a  blank  form  of  application  for  registration  may  make 
out  and  sign  before  a  superior  officer  a  statement  of  the  facts 
that  entitle  him  to  be  registered^  and  if  such  statement  is  re- 
ceived by  the  secretary  of  state  on  or  before  August  1,  1918, 
and  contains  information  sufficient  to  show  that  the  person  sub- 
scribing to  the  statement  is  entitled  to  be  registered  as  herein 
provided,  such  statement  shall  have  the  same  force  and  effect 
as  if  it  had  been  made  on  the  regular  blank  form  provided  by 
the  secretary  of  state. 

Sec.  6.  All  absent  citizens  whose  names  are  upon  the  lists 
prepared  as  provided  in  section  4  hereof  and  all  whose  names 
are  registered  as  provided  in  section  5  hereof,  and  all  absent 
citizens  who  may  otherwise  become  qualified  to  vote  at  any  elec- 
tion held  under  the  provisions  of  Article  XI  of  amendments  to 
the  constitution  of  the  state,  shall  for  the  duration  of  the  war 
and  six  months  thereafter,  continue  to  be  so  qualified,  and  to 
exercise  and  enjoy  the  rights  incident  thereto,  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  any  city  or  town  of  which 


ELECTION   LAWS.  287 

any  such  absent  citizen  is  a  resident  to  cause  the  name  of  such  "  Boards  of 

•^  canvassers  "   to 

absent  citizen  to  be  registered  in  the  registry  books,  and  to  place  [n^re^istry'"^ 

his  name  upon  the  voting  lists  of  such  city  or  town,  or  of  the  ^^^* 
voting  district  thereof,  of  which  he  is  a  resident,  and  such  regis- 
tration shall  be  as  good  and  valid  as  if  such  absent  citizen  had 

been  present  and  regis.tered  in  person.    All  names  placed  on  the  Names  placed 

voting  lists  under  the  authority  of  this  act  shall  be  indicated  by  usts,  how  to 

°  .  _      ,  -^    be  indicated. 

some  special  stamp  or  device  against  such  names,  or  shall  be 
placed  under  separate  columns  with  appropriate  heading. 

Sec.  7.     The  boards  of  canvassers  of  the  several  cities  and  special  meet- 

ing-  for  can- 
towns  shall  hold  a  special  meeting  on  the  fi^st  Wednesday  in  vassing  list 

August,  1918,  for  the  purpose  of  canvassing  the  list  of  absent  ^h?n"f!,"v. 
citizens  qualified  to  vote  in  their  respective  cities  and  towns  at  ^^^^' 
the  election  to  be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Mon- 
day in  November,  1918,  and  shall  immediately  after  such  can-  List  of  quaii- 
vass  furnish  the  secretary  of  state  with  a  list  of  such  absent  voters  to  be 

furnished  to 

voters  so  qualified,  giving  the  voting  district,  if  any,  in  which  secretary  of 
such  absent  citizens  reside. 

Sec.  8.     The  governor  shall  authorize  the  secretary  of  state  Governor  to 

°  -^  authorize 

to  expend  such  sum  as  the  governor  may  deem  necessary  in  pre-  p^^^-^  5* 
paring  the  general  register  and  obtaining  the  registration  pro-  Srr^ng^this 
vided  for  by  this  act,  and  the  state  auditor  shall  draw  his  order  effect"*^° 
or  orders  upon  the  general  treasurer  for  the  payment  of  said 
sum  or  for  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary  from  the  appro- 
priation made  by  the  act  passed  by  the  general  assembly  at  this 
session,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  provide  for  war  emergencies  and 
public  defense,'^  upon  receipt  of  vouchers  approved  by  the  gov- 
ernor. 

Sec.  9.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  and  after  its  passage. 


288 


ELECTION    LAWS. 


CHAPTEE  1657. 


Approved  AN  ACT  TO  ENABLE  ELECTORS  ABSENT  IN  THE  MILITARY  SERVICE 

April  19,  1918. 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  TO  VOTE. 


Electors  of  the 
state,    in  time 
of  war  absent 
from  the 
state  in  the 
military  ser- 
vice of  the 
United  States, 
to  have  the 
right  to  vote 
in  the  election 
to  be  held  in 
November,  1918. 


Commission 
to  carry  out 
provisions  of 
this  act,   how- 
appointed. 


Vacancy. 


Powers  and 
duties  of 
commission. 


It  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Electors  of  the  state  who  in  time  of  war  are  ab- 
sent from  the  state  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the  United 
States  in  the  army  or  navy  thereof  being  otherwise  qualified, 
shall  have  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election  to  be  held  on  the  Tues- 
day next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  A.  D.  1918  for 
United  States  Senator,  Representative  in  Congress  and  general 
officers  of  the  state. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  purpose  of  making  such  provision  as  may 
be  necessary  and  practicable  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  section 
one  of  this  act,  a  commission  is  hereby  created  to  consist  of  the 
secretary  of  state  and  two  electors  of  the  state,  one  of  such  elec- 
tors to  be  nominated  by  the  Eepublican  State  Central  Commit- 
tee and  one  by  the  Democratic  State  Central  Committee,  and 
both  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor  upon  the  receipt  by  him 
of  a  certificate  of  such  nomination  signed  by  the  chairman  and 
secretary  of  the  committee  so  nominating.  If  either  of  said 
committees  shall  fail  to  certify  a  nomination  to  the  governor 
as  aforesaid,  within  thirty  days  after  the  passage  of  this  act, 
then  the  governor  shall  appoint  an  elector  to  serve  on  such  com- 
mittee who  shall  be  a  member  of  the  party  that  so  fails  to  make 
a  nomination  through  its  committee.  If  a  vacancy  shall  occur 
from  any  cause  in  the  representation  of  either  party  on  said 
commission,  the  governor  shall  appoint  another  elector  of  such 
party  to  fill  such  vacancy. 

Sec.  3.  The  commission  shall  prepare  suitable  ballots  con- 
taining the  titles  of  the  several  offices  for  which  an  elector  ab- 
aent  from  the  state  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  army  or  navy  thereof,  is  entitled  to  vote,  and  so 


ELECTION   LAWS. 

far  as  possible  the  names  of  the  several  nominees  for  such  offices, 
and  such  ballots  shall  conform  as  nearly  as  may  be  to  the  fonn 
of  ballot  required  to  be  used  under  the  provisions  of  chapter  11 
of  the  general  laws,  but  said  commission  in  its  discretion  may 
modify  such  form  to  meet  the  special  conditions  under  which 
such  ballots  are  to  be  used.  The  commission  shall  endeavor  to 
distribute  said  ballots  to  such  absent  electors  in  ample  time  so 
that  all  ballots  that  may  be  voted  may  be  returned  to  the  sec- 
retary of  state  not  later  than  the  tenth  day  of  December,  A.  D. 
1918,  provided,  that  if  for  any  reason  the  commission  finds  that 
it  cannot  distribute  said  ballots  to  all  such  absent  electors,  it 
may  distribute  ballots  to  such  of  said  absent  electors  as  can  be 
readily  reached,  or  it  may  determine  not  to  distribute  any  bal- 
lots to  auy  such  absent  electors  if  it  considers  that  the  exigencies 
of  the  war  so  require. 

Sec.  4.     The  commission  shall  have  control   and   authority  coniini«ion 

^    may-  make  and 

over  the  preparation,  distribution,  collection  and  manner  of  using  aJT^Jl^i"^** 
the  ballots  to  be  provided  under  this  act,  and  it  may  make  and  *'**"• 
prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations  as  it  may  deem  expedient 
to  promote  the  prompt  and  effectual  distribution  and  collection 
of  ballots,  and  to  safeguard  the  use  of  such  ballots  and  the  votes 
given  in  under  the  authority  of  this  act. 

Sec.  5.  The  commission  shall  have  full  authority  to  print  and  FurtJier  powen 

.  .  ,  1      ii  ^^   ooBandflloii. 

provide  all  ballots,  wrappers,  instruction  sheets  and  other  sup- 
plies as  may  be  necessary  to  enable  it  to  carry  out  its  duties 
under  this  act,  and  to  pay  for  clerical  assistance,  transportation, 
mailing  and  express  charges  and  all  other  expenses  necessary 
to  carry  this  act  into  effect,  and  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  the 
state  auditor  shall  draw  his  order  or  orders  upon  the  general 
treasurer  for  the  payment  of  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  or  Appropriation 

r    *'  for  carrymg 

60  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary  from  the  appropriation  ^y^fj'^^''"* 
made  by  the  act  passed  by  the  general  assembly  at  this  session 
entitled  "An  Act  to  provide  for  war  emergencies  and  public 
defense"  upon  receipt  of  vouchers  approved  by  the  governor. 
Sec.  6.     All  ballots  cast  under  the  authority  of  this  act  that 


i94 


ELECTION   LAWS. 


Ballots  cast 
to  be  returned 
to  secretary 
of  state  not 
later  than 
Dec.  10,  1918. 

Votes  to  be 
counted  by 
state  retiuTiingr 
board,  etc. 


No  ballot  to 
be  rejected  as 
void  if  intent 
of  the  elector 
is  apparent,  or 
counted  if 
name  is  not  on 
Toting  list. 


Ballots  recived 
after  noon  of 
December  10th, 
1918,   to  be 
destroyed. 


are  returned  to  the  secretary  of  state  on  or  before  noon  of  the 
tenth  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1918,  shall  be  delivered  by  him 
to  the  state  returning  board  within  two  days  after  their  receipt 
by  him,  and  the  state  returning  board  shall  count  and  add  the 
votes  cast  by  such  ballots  to  the  totals  of  the  several  districts  in. 
which  the  electors  by  whom  such  ballots  are  cast  were  registered 
or  listed,  and  the  provisions  of  law  relating  to  the  counting  and 
tabulation  of  other  ballots  cast  at  the  election  aforesaid  shall 
apply  to  the  counting  and  tabulation  of  all  ballots  cast  under 
the  authority  of  this  act,  provided,  that  no  such  ballot  shall  be 
rejected  as  void  where  the  intent  of  the  absent  elector  is  clearly 
apparent,  but  no  ballot  cast  under  the  authority  of  this  act  shall 
be  counted  unless  it  has  been  voted  by  an  absent  elector  whose 
name  appears  on  the  voting  list  in  accordance  with  law.  The 
commission  hereby  created  shall  furnish  the  state  returning 
board  with  all  information  in  its  possession  whenever  the  va- 
lidity of  any  ballot  cast  under  the  authority  of  this  act  shall  be 
brought  into  question.  All  ballots  cast  under  the  authority  of 
this  act  that  are  received  by  the  secretary  of  state  after  noon  of 
the  tenth  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1918,  shall  be  destroyed  by 
the  commission  without  counting  or  recording  the  same. 

Sec.  7.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


ELECTION   LAWS  ^^91 


CHAPTER  1658. 

A.N   ACT    IN    RELATION   TO    THE    HOLDING   OF    CAUCUSES    AND   THE    Approved 

April  19,  1918. 
NOMINATION  OF  CERTAIN  CANDIDATES  FOR  PUBLIC  OFFICE^  FOR 

THE  PERIOD  OF   THE  WAR,  AND  FOR  SIX  MONTHS  THEREAFTER. 

It  is  enacted  hy  the  General  Assembly  as  folloius: 

Section  1.     All  caucuses  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  con-  certain  cau- 

*^  cuses  not  to 

gressional,  state,  or  city  and  town  conventions,  for  the  purpose  ^^^^^^J' 
of  nominating  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  {Jf^^  the"*' 
United  States,  senator  and  representatives  in  congress/,  go ver-  'n^ijr^* 
nor,    lieutenant-governor,    secretary   of    state,    attorney-general,  o^^Sniluy' 
general  treasurer  and  senators  and  representatives  in  the  gen-  the  duration 

of  th©  wflr 

eral  assembly,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1918,  and  biennially  for  the  etc. 
duration  of  the  war,  and  six  months  thereafter,  shall  be  called, 
published  and  held  as  now  provided  by  law : 

Provided,  however,  that  said  caucuses  shall  be  called,  pub- 
lished and  held  not  earlier  than  the  fourth  Wednesday  in 
August. 

Sec.  2.     All  certificates  of  nomination  of  candidates  for  the  certificates  of 

nomination  and 

offices  mentioned  in  section  one  of  this  act,  and  all  nomination  pa^^f  when 
papers  for  such  offices  shall  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state,  ^  ^  ^^^' 
or  in  his  office  with  some  person  there  present  and  officially 
representing  him,  not  later  than  the  fourth  Wednesday  in  Sep- 
tember. 

Sec.  3.     All  requests  for  withdrawal  of  the  name  of  any  can-  Requests  for 

^  "■  withdrawal    of 

didate  shall  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state,  or  in  his  office  ^^^^4 
with  some  person  there  present  and  officially  representing  him,  ^led"  ^ 
not  later  than  the  Saturday  following  the  fourth  Wednesday  in 
September. 

Sec.  4.     All  substitution  of  candidates  as  provided  by  law,  subetitution  of 

'■  ^  candidates, 

for  any  of  the  offices  mentioned  in  this  act,  so  withdrawing,  shall  ^Jj^"  *^  ^ 
be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state,  or  in  his  office  with  some 


292  ELECTION   LAWS. 

person  there  present  and  officially  representing  him,  not  later 
than  the  Monday  following  the  fourth  Wednesday  in  September. 

Sec.  5.     All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are 
hereby  repealed,  and  this  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Absent  citizens  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the  United  States, 
act   providing   for   the   registration   and   canvassing   of   lists 

of,    etc 284-287 

electors  in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States  to  vote, 

act    enabling 288-J290 

Acceptance  by  towns  of  provisions  relative  to  elections  by  secret  ballot.     69-71 

Acts,    certain,    repealed , 194 

Adjourned    or    secondary    elections 68 

Amendment  to   the  constitution,  propositions   of,   and  questions   sub- 
mitted to  the  electors  of  the  state,  relative  to  voting  upon.  .         117 

Assembly,  General,  of  the  constitution  and  organization  of 130-180 

relative  to  the  election  of  senators  and  representatives  in 108-111 

Article  II  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to  the  qualifications 

of  electors    3-6 

V  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives      6 

Vr  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to  the  senate 7 

VIII  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to  elections 8-11 

Ballot,  elections  by  secret,  acceptance  by  towns  of  provisions  of  chapter 

11,   relative    to 69-71 

secret,  elections  by 45-71 

secret,  penalties  for  violations  of  provisions  relative  to  elections 

by    66—68 

Ballots,  delivery  of,  by  secretary  of  state 57 

Board  of  canvassers  and  registration  for  the  city  of  Central  Falls,  act 

creating     , i 268-273 

of  canvassers  and  registration  of  Providence,  powers  and  duties 
of  city  clerk  relative  to  caucuses  and  elections,  transferred 

to 237 

state  returning,  relative  to  and  duties   of,  defined 118-126 

of  canvassers  and  registration  and  of  the  registering,  listing, 
and  returning  list  of  voters,  and  the  proof  of  their  qualifi- 
cation to  vote 15-23 

of  canvassers,  provisions  relative  to 15, 18,  226 

Bristol,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 173 

relative  to  holding  of  caucuses  in  town  of 195-205 

Burrillville,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 174 


294  ELECTIOX    LA^AS. 

^  PAGE 

Calling  and  warning  town  meetings 181-184 

Candidates,  certain,  act  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses   and  the 

nomination  of,  for  the  period  of  the  war,  etc 291 

nomination  of,  in  convention  or  caucus 46 

nomination  of  by  individual  voters 47 

Canvassers  and  registration,  board  of   for  the   city   of  Central   Falls, 

act  creating  268-='273 

and  registration,  board  of,  powers  and  duties   of  city   clerk  of 

Providence  relative  to  caucuses  and  elections,  transferred  to        237 
and  registration,  and  of  the   registering,  listing,   and  returning 

lists  of  voters  and  the  proof  of  their  qualifications  to  vote.  .     15-23 

boards  of,  provisions  relative  to 15,  18,  226 

Canvassing  of  lists  of  absent  citizens  in  the  military  service  of  the 

United  States,  etc.,  act  relative  to 284-287 

the  rights  and  correcting  the  lists  of  voters 23-29 

Caucus,  or  convention,  nomination  of  candidates  in 46 

supplies  and  voting  places,  boards  of  canvassers  to  furnish  for 

primary  meetings  226 

Caucuses,  act  in  relation  to  the  holding  of  and  the  nomination  of  certain 

candidates  for  the  period  of  the  war,  etc 291 

and   elections,    duties   of   city   clerk   of   Providence  relative    to, 

transferred  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration....         237 
of  the  holding  of,  in  the  cities  of  Providence,  Newport,  Pawtucket 

and   Central    Falls. 72-84,  205 

in  the  town  of  Bristol 195-205 

in  the   town  of  East  Providence 206-215 

in  the  town  of  Narragansett 249-258 

in  the  town   of   North   Kingstown 259-268 

in  the  town  of  North  Smithfield 227-236 

in  the  town  of  South  Kingstown 274-283 

in  the  town  of  Tiverton 216-225 

in  the  town  of  West  Warwick 239-249 

Central  Falls,  act  creating  a  board  of  canvassers  and  registration  for 

the  city  of 268-273 

how  divided  into  representative  districts 165-167 

of  the  holding  of  caucuses  in 72-84,  205 

Certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination  papers 49-56 

Chapter  640  of  the  Public  Laws,  certain  provisions  of,  relative  to  the 
tenure  of  office  of  certain  officers  and  the  repeal  of  certain 

acts   194 

Chapters  of  the  Public  Laws  passed  since  the  revision  of  the  General 

Laws   of   1909- 195-292 

Cities  and  towps,  certain,  how  divided  into  representative  districts.  . .  .132-174 
number  of  representatives  apportioned  to  each 130^132 


1 


IX  de::.  295 

PAGE 

Citizens  absent  from  the  state  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the 
United  States,  act  providing  for  the  registration  of  and  the 
canvassing  of  lists  of  such  citizens  as  may  be  qualified  to 

vote     284-287 

City  clerk  of  Providence,  duties  and  powers  of  relative  to  caucuses 
and  elections  transferred   to   the   board   of   canvassers   and 

registration     237 

town,  and  State  elections,  relative  to  the  use  of  voting-machines 

at 84-104 

Clerk,  city  of  Providence,  duties  and  powers  of  relative  to  caucuses 
and  elections    transferred   to   the   board   of   canvassers    and 

registration     . u 287 

town.  Section  4  of  Chapter  51  of  the  General  Laws  relative  to, 

amended   (town  clerk.  Little  Compton) 237 

Compartments   or  voting-shelves,  provisions  relative  to 61 

Conducting  elections,   manner   of 33-45 

Congress  of  the  United  States,  relative  to  the  election  of  senators  and 

representatives  in    110-113 

Constitution  and  organization  of  the  general  assembly 130,-180 

of   the    state,   article   IT   of,  relative   to   the    qualifications    of 

electors    3-6 

article  V  of,  relative  to  house  of  representatives 6 

article  VI,  relative  to  the  senate 7 

article  VIII  of,  relative  to  elections 8-11 

extracts  from,  relative  to  elections 3-11 

propositions  of  amendment  of  and  questions  submitted  to  the 

electors  of  the  state,  relative  to  voting  upon 117 

Convention  or  caucus,  nomination  of  candidates  in 46 

Correcting   lists    of    and    canvassing   the    rights    of    voters,    provisions 

relative   to    23-29 

Cranston,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 167—169 

Cumberland,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 171 

Delivery  of  ballots  by  secretary  of  state 67 

Districts,  representative,  certain  cities  and  towns,  how  divided  into ..  132-174 

East  Providence,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 169-171 

relative  to  holding  of  caucuses  in  town  of 206-215 

Election  and  qualification  of  town   oflficers 190-194 

laws,  certain  provisions  of  Chapter  640  of  the  Public  Laws,  in 

amendment    of    194 

of  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States.  .113-117 

of   general   oflRcers 105 

of  senators   and  representatives  in  the  congress  of  the  United 

States    110-113 

of  senators  and  representatives  in  the  general  assembly 106-110 

supervisors  of 59—61 


296  ELECTION    LAWS. 

PAGE 

Elections,    adjourned    or    secondary 68 

and   caucuses,   duties   of   the   city   clerk   of   Providence   relative 

to,  transferred  to  the  board  of  canvassers  and  registration. .         237 

article  Vlir  of  the  constitution  of  the  state  rel/itive  to 8-11 

by  secret   ballot 45-71 

by  secret  ballot,  acceptance  by  totnis  of  provisions  of  chapter 

11,  relative  to 69-71 

by  secret  ballot,  penalties  for  violation  of  provisions  relative  to . .     66-68 

extracts  from  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to 3-11 

general    provisions    concerning 126-129 

of  the  manner  of  conducting 33-45 

state,  city,  and  town,  relative  to  the  use  of  voting-machines  at..   84-104 
town,  acceptance  by  towns  of  provisions  of  Chapter  11,  relative 

to  elections  by  secret  ballot  for 69-71 

Elective  meetings,  provisions  relative  to 30-33 

Electors  absent  in  the  military  service  of  th<>  United  States  to  vote, 

act   enabling    288-290 

article  II,  of  the  constitution  of  the  8tat«%  relative  to  the  qualifi- 
cation  of 3-6 

of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  Un\ted  States,  relative  to 

the   election  of 113-117 

women,  of  president  and  vice-president   of   the   United   States, 

provisions  relative  to 115-117 

Extracts  from  Chapter  640  of  the  Public  Laws  of  1910 194 

from  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to  elections,  etc 3-11 

from  Title  IV  of  the  General  Laws,  of  Legislative  Proceedings 

and  of  Statutes 130-180 

from  Title  VIII  of  the  General  Laws,  Towns  and  Town- Officers.  .181-194 

General  assembly,  of  the  constitution  and  organization  of 130-180 

relative  to  the  election  of  senators  and  representatives  in 106-110 

officers,  relative  to  the  election  of 105 

provisions  concerning  elections 126-129 

House  of  Representatives,  article  V  of  the  constitution  of  the  state, 

relative  to 6 

how  constituted 130 

Individual  voters,  nomination  of  candidates  by 47 

Information   to   voters 5.g 

Kingstown,  South,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of.  .274-283 


INDEX.  297 

PAGE 

Laws,  election,  certain  provisions  of  Chapter  640  of  the  Public  Laws, 

in    amendment    of 194 

Public,  certain  provisions  of  Chapter  640  of,  relative  to  tenure 

of  office  of  certain  officers  and  the  repeal  of  certain  acts . . .         194 
Public,  chapters  of  passed  since  the  revision  of  the  General  Laws, 

1909   195-292 

Legislative  Proceedings  and  of  Statutes,  extract  from  Title  IV  of  the 

General   Laws    of 130-180 

Lincoln,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 172 

Lists  of  voters,  and  canvassing  the  rights  of  voters,  provisions  relative 

to  23-29 

of  the  returning  of,  and  proof  of  qualification  to  vote,  etc 15^23 

Little  Compton,  town  clerk  of,  act  relative  to 237 

Machines,    voting,    relative    to   the    use    of,   at    state   city,   and   town 

elections     84-104 

Manner    of    conducting    elections 33-45 

of    voting    62-66 

Meetings,  elective 30-33 

town,  relative  to  the  calling  and  warning  of 181-184 

town,  relative  to  the  quorum,  government  and  conduct  of,  and 

of  organization  and  government  of  ward  meetings 185-190 

ward,  relative  to  the  organization  and  government  of 185-190 

Military  service  in  the  United  States,  act  providing  for  the  registration 
of  citizens  of  the  state  absent  in,  and  the  preparing  and 
canvassing  of  lists  of  such  citizens  as  may  be  qualified  to 

vote     284-287 

service  of  the  United  States,  act  enabling  electors  absent  in,  to 

vote    '. 288-290 

Narragansett,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of 249'-258 

Newport,    how    divided    into    representative    districts 158-161 

Providence  and  Pawtucket,  cities  of,  of  the  holding  of  caucuses 

in    72-84,  205 

Nomination,  certificates  of,  and  nomination  papers 49-56 

of  candidates  by  individual  voters 47 

of  candidates  in  convention  or  caucus 46 

of  certain  candidates  and  the  holding  of  caucuses  for  the  period 

of  the  war,  act  relative  to 291 

North  Kingstown,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of.  .259-268 
Smithfield,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of.. 227-236 

Officers,  certain,  to  continue  to  serve  in  office 194 

general,  relative  to  the  election  of  105 

town,  relative  to  the  election  and  qualification  of 190-194 


298  ELECTION    LAWS. 

PAGE 

Organization  and  constitution  of  the  general  assembly 130-180 

and  government  of  ward  meetings 181-186 

Papers,  nomination,  and  certificates  of  nomination 49-56 

Pawtucket,    Newport    and   Providence,    cities   of,    of    the    holding    of 

caucuses  in 72-84,  205 

how  divided  into  representative  districts 147-153 

Penalties   for   violation   of   provisions   relative   to   elections   by   secret 

ballot 66-68 

President   and    vice-president    of    the    United    States,    relative    to    the 

election  of  electors  of 113-117 

Primary  meetings,  boards  of  canvassers,  to  furnish  voting  places  and 

supplies   for    226 

Propositions   of   amendment   to   the    constitution    and   questions    sub- 
mitted to  the  electors  of  the  state,  relative  to  voting  upon        117 
Providence,  duties  and  powers  of  city  clerk  of,  relative  to   caucuses 
and   elections,  transferred  to   the  board  of  canvassers   and 

registration 237 

Newport  and  Pawtucket,  cities   of,  of  the  holding  of   caucuses 

in    72-84,  205 

how  divided  into  representative  districts 132-147 

Provisions,   general,    concerning   elections 126-129 

Public  Laws,  Chapter  640,  certain  provisions  of,  relative  to  tenure  of 

office  of  certain  officers  and  the  repeal  of  certain  acts 194 

.chapters  of  passed  since  the  revision  of  the  General  Laws,  1909".  .195-292 

Qualification,  election  and,  of  town  officers 190-194 

Qualifications  and  rights  of  voters 13 

of  electors,  article  II  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to . .         3-6 
Questions  submitted  to  the  electors,  etc.,  relative  to  voting  upon  by 

the  electors  of  the  state 117 

Quorimi,  government  and  conduct  of  town  meetings,  etc 185-190 

Registration,  board  of  canvassers  and,  for  the  city  of  Central  Falls, 

act  creating 268-273 

boards  of  canvassers  and,  and  of  registering,  listing,  and  return- 
ing lists  of  voters  and  the  proof   of  their  qualification  to 

vote    15-23 

of  citizens  absent  from  the  state  in  actual  military  service  of  the 

United   States,  act   providing   for 284-287 

of  voters,  provisions  relative   to 19-23 

Repeal  of  certain  acts 194 

Representative  districts,  certain  cities  and  towns,  how  divided  into.  .132-174 


iXDEx.  299 

PAGE 

Representatives  and  senators  in  the  general  assembly,  relative  to  the 

election  of 106-110 

house  of,  article  V  of  the  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to 6 

house  of,   how  constituted 130 

•  and  senators  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  relative  to  the 

election  of 110i-113 

number  of  apportioned  to  each  city  and  town 130 

Returning  board,  state,  relative  to,  and  duties  defined 118-126 

Rights  and  qualifications  of  voters 13 

of  voters,  of  canvassing  the 23-2ff 

Secondary  or  adjourned  elections 68 

Secret  ballot,  acceptance  by  towns  of  provisions  of  Chapter  11,  relative 

to  elections  by 69^1 

elections    by .  ^ 45-71 

penalties  for  violation  of  provisions  relative  to  elections  by 66-68 

Secretary  of  state,  delivery  of  ballots  by 57 

Senate,  article  VI  of  constitution  of  the  state,  relative  to 7 

how  constituted 1 128 

Senators  and  representatives  in  the  general  assembly,  relative  to  the 

election  of 106-110 

and  representatives  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  relative 

to  the  election  of 110-113 

Shelves,  voting,  or  compartments,  provisions  relative  to 61 

"  Soldier  vote,"so  called  act  relative  to  the  registration  and  canvassing 

of .284-287 

act  providing  for  the  taking  of 288—290 

South  Kingstown,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of.  .274-283 
State,  city  and  town  elections,  relative  to  the  use  of  voting-machines  at  84—104 

returning  board,  relative  to,  and  duties  defined 118-126 

secretary  of,  delivery  of  ballots  by • 57 

Supervisors    of   election .     59-61 

Title  IV  of  the  General  Laws,  Legislative  Proceedings  and  of  Statutes, 

extract  from    130-180 

VIII  of  the  General  Laws,  Towns  and  Town   Officers,  extracts 

from    181-194 

Tiverton,  relative  to  holding  of  caucuses  in  town  of 216>-225 

Town,  city,  and  state  elections,  relative  to  the  use  of  voting-machines 

at    84-104 

clerk,  Section  4  of  Chapter  51  of  the  General  Laws,  relative  to, 

amended  (town  clerk,  Little  Compton) 237 

meetings,  relative  to  the  calling  and  warning  of 181-184 

meetings,  relative  to  the  quorum,  government  and  conduct  of, 

and  of  organization  and  government  of  ward  meetings 185-190 

officers,  relative  to  the  election  and  qualification  of 190-194 


300  ELECTION    LAWS. 

PAGE 

Towns,  acceptance  by,  of  provisions  of  Chapter  11,  relative  to  elections 

by    secret    ballot 69-71 

and  cities,  certain,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 132-174 

number  of  representatives  apportioned  to  each 130-132 

United  States,  relative  to  the  election  of  electors  of  president  and  vice- 
president    of    . . , 113-117 

relative  to  the  election  of  senators  and  representatives  in  the 

congress  of   110-113 

Vice-president  of  the  United  States,  relative  to  the  election  of  electors 

of,  and  of  president 113-117 

Vote,   act    enabling   electors    absent    in    the    military    service    of    the 

United  States  to 288-290 

Voters,  canvassing  the  rights  and  correcting  lists  of 23-29 

information   to    56 

nomination  of  candidates   by   individual 47 

of  the  registering,  listing  and  returning  lists  of,  and  proof  of 

their  qualification  to  vote,  etc 15-23 

of  the  rights  and  qualifications  of 13 

registration    of,    provisions    relative    to 19-23 

Voting-machines,   relative    to    the    use    of,    at    state,    city,    and    town 

elections 84-104 

manner  of    62—66 

places  and  supplies,  boards  of  canvassers  to  furnish  for  primary 

meetings   226 

shelves  or  compartments,  provisions  relative  to 61 

upon  propositions  of  amendment  to  the  constitution,  and  upon 

questions  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  state 117 

War,  act  relative  to.  the  registration  of,  and  the  canvassing  the  lists 
of  absent  citizens  in  the  actual  military  service  of  the  United 

States  in  the  present  time  of 284-287 

act  in  relation  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  and  the  nomination 

of  certain  candidates  for  the  period  of,  etc 291 

act,  enabling  electors  of  the  state  absent  in  the  military  service 

of  the  United  States  to  vote  in  the  present  time  of 288-290 

Ward  meetings,  relative  to  the  organization  and  government  of,  etc..  .185-19^ 

Warning  and  calling  town  meetings 181-184 

Warwick,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 161-164 

Warwick,  West,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of 239-249 

West  Warwick,  relative  to  the  holding  of  caucuses  in  the  town  of 239-249 

Westerly,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 172 

Women  electors  of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States, 

provisions    relative    to 115-117 

Woonsocket,  how  divided  into  representative  districts 153-161 


m 441 57 

1318 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


